Page 10 - India Maldives Ties

India pushes to maintain military presence in 'strategically imp' Maldives

The two countries have set up a committee to discuss India's deployment in the archipelago, the officials said, asking not to be identified because the discussions are private

New Delhi, Male in talks for keeping Indian military platforms in Maldives

India and the Maldives are in discussions for keeping the Indian military platforms in the island nation and a core group that both sides agreed to set up will look at the details relating to it, official sources said on Sunday. Earlier in the day, Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu reportedly told journalists that New Delhi has agreed to withdraw its military personnel from his country. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Muizzu held talks on the sidelines of the COP28 Summit in Dubai on Friday and it is understood that the issue had figured in the meeting. "The issue was briefly discussed in Dubai," said a source. Following the meeting between Modi and Muizzu, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said that the two leaders also discussed ways to further deepen bilateral partnership, adding: "In this regard, they agreed to set up a core group." The sources said the Maldivian side has acknowledged the utility of the Indian military platforms. "The fact that it is an important segme

New Maldives govt reviewing over 100 agreements with India: Official

There were 77 Indian military personnel in the Maldives and the new government here was reviewing more than 100 agreements signed with New Delhi, a senior Maldivian official said on Sunday, a day after President Mohamed Muizzu formally requested India to withdraw them from the island nation. Addressing a press conference here, the Undersecretary for Public Policy of the Presidential Office, Mohamed Firuzul Abdul Khaleel said the new administration has established that there are 77 Indian military personnel in the Maldives. There were 24 Indian military personnel to manage the first helicopter, 25 Indians to manage the Dornier aircraft, 26 personnel to manage the second helicopter, and two more for maintenance and engineering, Firuzul was quoted as saying by the Maldivian media. He said that President Muizzu, who won the presidential election in September, has initiated efforts to expel all 77 from the Maldives. The Maldives is one of India's key maritime neighbours in the strategic

LIVE: Uttar Pradesh govt bans sale of halal certified edible items

Catch the latest news updates from across the globe

Leaders discuss solutions for use of Indian military platforms in Maldives

India and the Maldives on Saturday agreed to discuss "workable solutions" to continue use of Indian military platforms by the island nation as such a corporation serves interests of Maldivian people, sources said after a meeting between Union minister Kiren Rijiju and new Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu in Male. Rijiju called on Muizzu, widely seen as a pro-China leader, at his office, a day after attending the Maldivian leader's inauguration ceremony. A statement released by the Maldivian president's office said Muizzu "formally requested the government of India to withdraw its military personnel from the Maldives" in the meeting. Muizzu has maintained that he will keep his election promise of evicting Indian military personnel from his country. "At the meeting, President Muizzu had formally requested the Government of India to withdraw its military personnel from the Maldives," the statement said. "The President noted that at the presidential election held in September, the .

Muizzu, new president of Maldives, asks India to withdraw military presence

Less than 24 hours after taking oath as the President of Maldives, Mohamed Muizzu on Saturday formally requested the Government of India to "withdraw" its military personnel from his country, saying the Maldivian people have given a "strong mandate" to make this request to New Delhi. Muizzu's request came when India's Union Minister Kiren Rejiju paid a courtesy call on the new president at the latter's office, the Maldivian President's Office said in a press release. The exact number of Indian military personnel in the Maldives is not known. Engineer-turned-politician, Muizzu, 45, took oath on Friday as the eighth president of the strategically-located archipelago nation in the Indian Ocean. Underscoring India's Neighbourhood First Policy', Rijiju represented the country at Muizzu's inauguration ceremony. A close associate of former Maldives President Abdulla Yameen, who forged close ties with China during his Presidency from 2013 to 2018, Muizzu defeated India-friendly incumbent .

Kiren Rijiju inspects India-funded key connectivity project in Maldives

Minister of Earth Sciences Kiren Rijiju on Friday inspected the progress of work of an India-funded major connectivity project in the Maldives that is expected to usher economic development and prosperity in the country. Rijiju is here at the invitation of Maldives President-elect Mohamed Muizzu to represent India at the inaugural ceremony of the presidency. Under the Greater Male Connectivity Project (GMCP) project, a 6.74-km-long bridge and causeway link will be built to connect the capital city Male with the adjoining islands of Villingli, Gulhifalhu and Thilafushi. It is funded under a grant of USD 100 million and a Line of Credit of USD 400 million from India. "Glad to witness the progress of works of Greater Male Connectivity Project in Maldives. Project is being undertaken under the Govt of India's concessional Line of Credit and Grant and is expected to usher economic development and prosperity in the Greater Male Region," Rijiju, posted on X. Earlier in the day, Rijiju .

Rijiju highlights progress in India-Maldives ties under PM Modi, Solih

Minister Rijiju landed in Maldives on Thursday to attend the swearing-in ceremony of President-elect Mohamed Muizzu

India, Maldives able to develop close cooperation at all levels: MoS

India and the Maldives have been able to develop deep and close cooperation at all levels including political, administrative, entrepreneurial and people-to-people ties apart from their strong development partnership, Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan said on Sunday. Muraleedharan, who is in the Maldives on a two-day official visit, said his trip has been highly productive and he was reassured that the bilateral relationship will continue to grow. "I had very engaging and fruitful conversations today with Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid. We discussed topics ranging across the whole partnership spectrum. We were happy with the rapid all-round progress in our bilateral partnership and close coordination on regional and international issues, the minister said. He said the bilateral relationship has achieved huge progress in the last few years under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. "India and the Maldives have been

It is crucial to maintain peace, security in Indian Ocean: India, Maldives

India and the Maldives on Wednesday reaffirmed the importance of maintaining peace, stability and security in the Indian Ocean as they underscored the significance of respecting international law and rules-based international order, amid China's growing influence in the strategically vital region. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who arrived here on Monday on the invitation of his Maldivian counterpart Mariya Didi, also jointly laid the foundation stone for the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) Ekatha harbour in Male in keeping with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of SAGAR or Security And Growth for All in the Region. The development of the Coastguard Harbour and repair facility at Sifavaru is one of the biggest grant-in-aid projects of India. During his visit, Singh and Didi held bilateral talks to enhance defence cooperation and strengthen the longstanding partnership between India and Maldives. "They discussed a wide range of regional and global security issues of mutu

'Neighbourhood First': Maldives gets two Made in India warships

"The Indian Ocean is our shared space. Peace and security of a region are best secured with cooperation and collaboration of the regional players," he said

Def Min Rajnath Singh to hand over patrol vessel, landing craft to Maldives

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will hand over a fast patrol vessel and a landing craft to the Maldives as India's "gift" during his visit to the island nation from May 1 to 3. The defence ministry said this on Sunday, a day ahead of Singh's visit to the Maldives, one of India's strategically key maritime neighbours. It said Singh's visit will be an "important landmark" in building strong bonds of friendship between the two countries. During his visit, Singh will call on Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and hold talks with Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid and Defence Minister Mariya Didi. "In tune with India's commitment to capacity building of friendly countries and partners in the region, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will gift one fast patrol vessel ship and a landing craft to the Maldives National Defence Forces," the ministry said in a statement. On Singh's talks with the Maldivian defence and foreign ministers, it said the entire gamut of defence relations between th

Jaishankar, Maldives prez take part in groundbreaking of airport project

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih have jointly participated in groundbreaking ceremony of Hanimaadhoo international airport redevelopment project

India, Maldives ink six agreements to broad-base ties in key areas

PM Modi asserted that New Delhi has been and will continue to be the "first responder" to any need or crisis facing the island nation

PM Modi holds talks with visiting Maldivian President Mohamed Solih

PM Modi and visiting Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih held extensive talks with an aim to ramp up overall bilateral strategic ties including in areas of trade and investment

India, Maldives plan interconnection for transferring renewable power

Singh appreciated the resolve of Maldives government to achieve net zero emission target by 2030, according to a power ministry statement

'Time-tested' India-Maldives relationship is a 'force for stability': EAM

The Maldives is one of India's key maritime neighbours in the Indian Ocean region and the bilateral defence and security ties have been on an upward trajectory in the last few years

EAM S Jaishankar arrives in Maldives to boost bilateral ties

"The bilateral meetings and interactions which EAM will have in Sri Lanka highlight the priority that Sri Lanka occupies for India," the MEA statement said

Maldivian president thanks India for 'generous aid' during Covid pandemic

Maldivian President Ibrahim Solih has thanked India for its help during the Covid pandemic, highlighting that India donated vaccines and generously aided the island nation on many occasions

India, Maldives to strengthen professional capabilities in audit fields

During the meeting, Murmu emphasised the role of technology in today's rapidly changing world, which constantly create fresh avenues for audit and make audits more efficient