India, Maldives Discuss Pulling Military from Contested Island

Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held a candid discussion with Maldivian Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer during their meeting in Kampala, Uganda. The encounter took place against the backdrop of strained bilateral ties between India and the Maldives. Jaishankar is in Kampala to represent India at the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) summit.

Taking to social media, Jaishankar shared a photo of the meeting and mentioned their frank conversation on India-Maldives ties, along with discussions on NAM-related issues. Zameer, in his post, expressed pleasure at the meeting and highlighted their exchange of views on topics such as the withdrawal of Indian military personnel, progress on ongoing development projects in the Maldives, and collaboration within SAARC and NAM. Both leaders expressed commitment to strengthen and expand cooperation.

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The India-Maldives relationship faced challenges when Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu, perceived as pro-China, reiterated his election promise to remove Indian military personnel from the country. Tensions escalated when Maldivian leaders made derogatory remarks about Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on social media, leading to the suspension of three ministers by Muizzu.

Despite these challenges, the overall bilateral ties, including defense and security cooperation, had witnessed positive developments under the previous Maldivian government. Initiatives such as the Greater Male Connectivity Project, featuring a bridge and causeway link, demonstrated the commitment to infrastructure development. The Maldives remains a significant beneficiary of India’s Neighbourhood First policy. Defense Minister Rajnath Singh’s visit and the initiation of the GMCP underscored the strategic importance of the Maldives in the Indian Ocean Region.

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