Maldives President Muizzu met Prime Minister Modi in Delhi (File).
New Delhi:
India and Maldives on Monday sought to reset a relationship fractured by diplomatic squabbles – including a major row last year over three Maldivian ministers’ critical comments about Prime Minister Narendra Modi – with President Mohamed Muizzu‘s first State visit to New Delhi.
Mr Muizzu arrived in Delhi Sunday evening and, after a day’s rest, was accorded a ceremonial welcome by President Droupadi Murmu and the Prime Minister at Raj Bhavan, after which he paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat and then went into a huddle with Mr Modi.
At a joint statement after the two leaders met, Mr Modi underlined New Delhi’s position as a “close friend” of the island nation, emphasising his ‘neighbourhood first’ foreign policy that has seen India act as a ‘first responder’ to emergencies affecting Male, including supplying Covid vaccines.
“Be it essential commodities, vaccines during Covid, or drinking water… we have played a good neighbour,” he said, adding India had today also virtually inaugurated the Hanimaadhoo International Airport on the Haa Dhaalu Atoll and, earlier, handed over 700 social housing units, as well as set up a drinking water and sewerage project to serve nearly 30,000 people across 28 Maldivian islands.
The Maldives, he also said, has an important role in ensuring the security of the Indian Ocean Region – an issue red-flagged by many within the government after Mr Muizzu – seen as a ‘pro-China’ leader – won last year’s election on what was called an ‘India out’ platform.
That platform included requesting Delhi to withdraw 90 military personnel in the Maldives to maintain and operate three aviation platforms for humanitarian and medical aid.
These three – two helicopters and a Dornier aircraft – were a gift from India.
After talks, Delhi replaced military personnel with “competent technical” staff.
Apart from the ejection of the military staff – of which Mr Muizzu has said he simply “did what the people of Maldives asked of me” – February’s docking of a Chinese spy ship masquerading as a research vessel also raised eyebrows after similar vessels docked at Sri Lanka’s Hambantota Port.
On these points, and the claimed ‘India Out’ agenda, which was seen as one of Mr Muizzu’s key poll promises, he insisted India remains a key partner in his efforts to secure regional stability and denied any ‘India out’ agenda. He said it was simply the case that “Maldives does not want a foreign soldier”.
$400 Million, Rs 3,000 Crore Currency Swap
Meanwhile, as part of resetting of ties, India and the Maldives announced a $400 million and Rs 3,000 crore currency swap agreement to help Male overcome foreign exchange reserve issues.
This is seen as critical as New Delhi looks to ward off China’s influence over Male and in the Indian Ocean Region. India has also granted cash-strapped Maldives a US$100 million rollover.
A currency swap – welcomed by Mr Muizzu – is a financial agreement that sees two parties exchange the principal and interest of a loan in different currencies over a set period of time.
“I am also thankful for the Indian government’s decision to provide support – Rs 30 billion in addition to US$ 400 million bilateral currency swap – which will be instrumental in addressing foreign exchange issues we are facing right now,” he said.
Other bilateral measures announced this afternoon are the launch of the RuPay card, which is issued by the National Payments Corporation of India, a multinational financial services company owned by a consortium of major Indian banks and promoted by the Reserve Bank.
India is also assisting the Maldives with an infrastructure project for the Greater Male area.
Overall, both sides seem satisfied with the outcome of Mr Muizzu’s first bilateral visit to this country, the agreements signed and comments made reflect the growing bonhomie after the diplomatic spats.
With input from agencies
NDTV is now available on WhatsApp channels. Click on the link to get all the latest updates from NDTV on your chat.
Maldives President Muizzu met Prime Minister Modi in Delhi (File).
New Delhi:
India and Maldives on Monday sought to reset a relationship fractured by diplomatic squabbles – including a major row last year over three Maldivian ministers’ critical comments about Prime Minister Narendra Modi – with President Mohamed Muizzu‘s first State visit to New Delhi.
Mr Muizzu arrived in Delhi Sunday evening and, after a day’s rest, was accorded a ceremonial welcome by President Droupadi Murmu and the Prime Minister at Raj Bhavan, after which he paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat and then went into a huddle with Mr Modi.
At a joint statement after the two leaders met, Mr Modi underlined New Delhi’s position as a “close friend” of the island nation, emphasising his ‘neighbourhood first’ foreign policy that has seen India act as a ‘first responder’ to emergencies affecting Male, including supplying Covid vaccines.
“Be it essential commodities, vaccines during Covid, or drinking water… we have played a good neighbour,” he said, adding India had today also virtually inaugurated the Hanimaadhoo International Airport on the Haa Dhaalu Atoll and, earlier, handed over 700 social housing units, as well as set up a drinking water and sewerage project to serve nearly 30,000 people across 28 Maldivian islands.
The Maldives, he also said, has an important role in ensuring the security of the Indian Ocean Region – an issue red-flagged by many within the government after Mr Muizzu – seen as a ‘pro-China’ leader – won last year’s election on what was called an ‘India out’ platform.
That platform included requesting Delhi to withdraw 90 military personnel in the Maldives to maintain and operate three aviation platforms for humanitarian and medical aid.
These three – two helicopters and a Dornier aircraft – were a gift from India.
After talks, Delhi replaced military personnel with “competent technical” staff.
Apart from the ejection of the military staff – of which Mr Muizzu has said he simply “did what the people of Maldives asked of me” – February’s docking of a Chinese spy ship masquerading as a research vessel also raised eyebrows after similar vessels docked at Sri Lanka’s Hambantota Port.
On these points, and the claimed ‘India Out’ agenda, which was seen as one of Mr Muizzu’s key poll promises, he insisted India remains a key partner in his efforts to secure regional stability and denied any ‘India out’ agenda. He said it was simply the case that “Maldives does not want a foreign soldier”.
$400 Million, Rs 3,000 Crore Currency Swap
Meanwhile, as part of resetting of ties, India and the Maldives announced a $400 million and Rs 3,000 crore currency swap agreement to help Male overcome foreign exchange reserve issues.
This is seen as critical as New Delhi looks to ward off China’s influence over Male and in the Indian Ocean Region. India has also granted cash-strapped Maldives a US$100 million rollover.
A currency swap – welcomed by Mr Muizzu – is a financial agreement that sees two parties exchange the principal and interest of a loan in different currencies over a set period of time.
“I am also thankful for the Indian government’s decision to provide support – Rs 30 billion in addition to US$ 400 million bilateral currency swap – which will be instrumental in addressing foreign exchange issues we are facing right now,” he said.
Other bilateral measures announced this afternoon are the launch of the RuPay card, which is issued by the National Payments Corporation of India, a multinational financial services company owned by a consortium of major Indian banks and promoted by the Reserve Bank.
India is also assisting the Maldives with an infrastructure project for the Greater Male area.
Overall, both sides seem satisfied with the outcome of Mr Muizzu’s first bilateral visit to this country, the agreements signed and comments made reflect the growing bonhomie after the diplomatic spats.
With input from agencies
NDTV is now available on WhatsApp channels. Click on the link to get all the latest updates from NDTV on your chat.
Maldives President Muizzu met Prime Minister Modi in Delhi (File).
New Delhi:
India and Maldives on Monday sought to reset a relationship fractured by diplomatic squabbles – including a major row last year over three Maldivian ministers’ critical comments about Prime Minister Narendra Modi – with President Mohamed Muizzu‘s first State visit to New Delhi.
Mr Muizzu arrived in Delhi Sunday evening and, after a day’s rest, was accorded a ceremonial welcome by President Droupadi Murmu and the Prime Minister at Raj Bhavan, after which he paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat and then went into a huddle with Mr Modi.
At a joint statement after the two leaders met, Mr Modi underlined New Delhi’s position as a “close friend” of the island nation, emphasising his ‘neighbourhood first’ foreign policy that has seen India act as a ‘first responder’ to emergencies affecting Male, including supplying Covid vaccines.
“Be it essential commodities, vaccines during Covid, or drinking water… we have played a good neighbour,” he said, adding India had today also virtually inaugurated the Hanimaadhoo International Airport on the Haa Dhaalu Atoll and, earlier, handed over 700 social housing units, as well as set up a drinking water and sewerage project to serve nearly 30,000 people across 28 Maldivian islands.
The Maldives, he also said, has an important role in ensuring the security of the Indian Ocean Region – an issue red-flagged by many within the government after Mr Muizzu – seen as a ‘pro-China’ leader – won last year’s election on what was called an ‘India out’ platform.
That platform included requesting Delhi to withdraw 90 military personnel in the Maldives to maintain and operate three aviation platforms for humanitarian and medical aid.
These three – two helicopters and a Dornier aircraft – were a gift from India.
After talks, Delhi replaced military personnel with “competent technical” staff.
Apart from the ejection of the military staff – of which Mr Muizzu has said he simply “did what the people of Maldives asked of me” – February’s docking of a Chinese spy ship masquerading as a research vessel also raised eyebrows after similar vessels docked at Sri Lanka’s Hambantota Port.
On these points, and the claimed ‘India Out’ agenda, which was seen as one of Mr Muizzu’s key poll promises, he insisted India remains a key partner in his efforts to secure regional stability and denied any ‘India out’ agenda. He said it was simply the case that “Maldives does not want a foreign soldier”.
$400 Million, Rs 3,000 Crore Currency Swap
Meanwhile, as part of resetting of ties, India and the Maldives announced a $400 million and Rs 3,000 crore currency swap agreement to help Male overcome foreign exchange reserve issues.
This is seen as critical as New Delhi looks to ward off China’s influence over Male and in the Indian Ocean Region. India has also granted cash-strapped Maldives a US$100 million rollover.
A currency swap – welcomed by Mr Muizzu – is a financial agreement that sees two parties exchange the principal and interest of a loan in different currencies over a set period of time.
“I am also thankful for the Indian government’s decision to provide support – Rs 30 billion in addition to US$ 400 million bilateral currency swap – which will be instrumental in addressing foreign exchange issues we are facing right now,” he said.
Other bilateral measures announced this afternoon are the launch of the RuPay card, which is issued by the National Payments Corporation of India, a multinational financial services company owned by a consortium of major Indian banks and promoted by the Reserve Bank.
India is also assisting the Maldives with an infrastructure project for the Greater Male area.
Overall, both sides seem satisfied with the outcome of Mr Muizzu’s first bilateral visit to this country, the agreements signed and comments made reflect the growing bonhomie after the diplomatic spats.
With input from agencies
NDTV is now available on WhatsApp channels. Click on the link to get all the latest updates from NDTV on your chat.
Maldives President Muizzu met Prime Minister Modi in Delhi (File).
New Delhi:
India and Maldives on Monday sought to reset a relationship fractured by diplomatic squabbles – including a major row last year over three Maldivian ministers’ critical comments about Prime Minister Narendra Modi – with President Mohamed Muizzu‘s first State visit to New Delhi.
Mr Muizzu arrived in Delhi Sunday evening and, after a day’s rest, was accorded a ceremonial welcome by President Droupadi Murmu and the Prime Minister at Raj Bhavan, after which he paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat and then went into a huddle with Mr Modi.
At a joint statement after the two leaders met, Mr Modi underlined New Delhi’s position as a “close friend” of the island nation, emphasising his ‘neighbourhood first’ foreign policy that has seen India act as a ‘first responder’ to emergencies affecting Male, including supplying Covid vaccines.
“Be it essential commodities, vaccines during Covid, or drinking water… we have played a good neighbour,” he said, adding India had today also virtually inaugurated the Hanimaadhoo International Airport on the Haa Dhaalu Atoll and, earlier, handed over 700 social housing units, as well as set up a drinking water and sewerage project to serve nearly 30,000 people across 28 Maldivian islands.
The Maldives, he also said, has an important role in ensuring the security of the Indian Ocean Region – an issue red-flagged by many within the government after Mr Muizzu – seen as a ‘pro-China’ leader – won last year’s election on what was called an ‘India out’ platform.
That platform included requesting Delhi to withdraw 90 military personnel in the Maldives to maintain and operate three aviation platforms for humanitarian and medical aid.
These three – two helicopters and a Dornier aircraft – were a gift from India.
After talks, Delhi replaced military personnel with “competent technical” staff.
Apart from the ejection of the military staff – of which Mr Muizzu has said he simply “did what the people of Maldives asked of me” – February’s docking of a Chinese spy ship masquerading as a research vessel also raised eyebrows after similar vessels docked at Sri Lanka’s Hambantota Port.
On these points, and the claimed ‘India Out’ agenda, which was seen as one of Mr Muizzu’s key poll promises, he insisted India remains a key partner in his efforts to secure regional stability and denied any ‘India out’ agenda. He said it was simply the case that “Maldives does not want a foreign soldier”.
$400 Million, Rs 3,000 Crore Currency Swap
Meanwhile, as part of resetting of ties, India and the Maldives announced a $400 million and Rs 3,000 crore currency swap agreement to help Male overcome foreign exchange reserve issues.
This is seen as critical as New Delhi looks to ward off China’s influence over Male and in the Indian Ocean Region. India has also granted cash-strapped Maldives a US$100 million rollover.
A currency swap – welcomed by Mr Muizzu – is a financial agreement that sees two parties exchange the principal and interest of a loan in different currencies over a set period of time.
“I am also thankful for the Indian government’s decision to provide support – Rs 30 billion in addition to US$ 400 million bilateral currency swap – which will be instrumental in addressing foreign exchange issues we are facing right now,” he said.
Other bilateral measures announced this afternoon are the launch of the RuPay card, which is issued by the National Payments Corporation of India, a multinational financial services company owned by a consortium of major Indian banks and promoted by the Reserve Bank.
India is also assisting the Maldives with an infrastructure project for the Greater Male area.
Overall, both sides seem satisfied with the outcome of Mr Muizzu’s first bilateral visit to this country, the agreements signed and comments made reflect the growing bonhomie after the diplomatic spats.
With input from agencies
NDTV is now available on WhatsApp channels. Click on the link to get all the latest updates from NDTV on your chat.
