Page 7 - India Maldives Ties

Bangaram, Thinnakara islands becoming tourism hotspots in Lakshadweep

When the fishing boat carrying tourists wades through the turquoise blue waters, as it approaches the Bangaram island, one could clearly see the coral reefs and flashes of multiple colors inside those natural structures. You can spot large sea turtles and various fishes running away from the sound of the boat's propeller. There is no need to question why Bangaram and its nearby Thinnakara island are considered the hot spot of tourism activity in Lakshadweep. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's photographs during his visit and stay at Bangaram, taken on a newly formed sand bank there has made the place even more popular. The Lakshadweep administration is operating a five star resort on this uninhabited island and there is nothing else, not even a shop or people who are outsiders. Occasionally tourists who are staying in Agatti, come to take a stroll on the resort property and go back and the guests staying there return to their tranquility, with no outside noises but just the humming of

India, Maldives' officials discuss collaboration in trade, mutual security

Meanwhile, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday said India will replace military personnel at aviation platforms in the Maldives with 'competent technical personnel'

Highlights of the day: On Fb live, Shiv Sena UBT leader's son shot dead

Latest LIVE: From elections in Pakistan to BJP govt's decision to present a white paper on state of economy during UPA 's ten year rule, catch all the latest updates from around the world here

Will soon reach point of no foreign military presence: Maldives Prez Muizzu

President Mohamed Muizzu on Wednesday said by bolstering the defence capabilities of the Maldives, the country will soon reach a point where there is no "foreign" military presence, weeks after he sought the withdrawal of Indian defence personnel from the archipelago nation. The statement comes a day after Muizzu, who rode to power on anti-India posturing, declared that the Maldives will maintain autonomous control over all its territories, including maritime, aerial, and terrestrial domains apart from enhancing Maldives' capabilities for conducting underwater surveys. In his first presidential speech on Monday, Muizzu, widely seen as a pro-China leader, had said the first group of Indian military personnel will be sent back from the Maldives before March 10 and the remaining manning two aviation platforms will be withdrawn before May 10. Currently, 88 Indian military personnel are in the Maldives primarily to operate two helicopters and an aircraft that have carried out hundreds of

China displaces India as largest tourism market for Maldives amid row

Amidst a diplomatic row between the Maldives and India, Chinese tourists have overtaken Indian holidaymakers visiting the archipelago nation, according to official figures released here on Monday. According to official statistics from the Maldivian Ministry of Tourism, as of February 4, China, with 23,972 tourists occupied the number one slot (11.2 per cent market share in 2024); it was on the number three spot in 2023. India, which was on the number 1 slot in 2023, has slipped down to 5th position as of Sunday with 16,536 tourists (7.7 per cent market share in 2024) coming to this island nation. The development could be a fallout of a full-blown backlash directed at the Maldives following the derogatory remarks against India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on social media by three Maldivian ministers after Modi posted photos and video on X of his visit to the pristine Lakshadweep Islands on India's west coast earlier in January. Soon after the remarks against Modi went viral, ...

Indian troops in Maldives to be sent back before May 10: President Muizzu

Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu on Monday said the first group of Indian military personnel will be sent back from the island nation before March 10 and the remaining manning two aviation platforms will be withdrawn before May 10, as he articulated the need to bolster the Indian Ocean archipelagic nation's military capabilities. In his maiden address to Parliament, Muizzu, widely seen as a pro-China leader, said the support of a large majority of the Maldivian citizens for his administration was for the "pledges to withdraw foreign military troops from the country." Soon after taking oath as the President of Maldives on November 17, Muizzu formally requested India to withdraw 88 military personnel from his country by March 15, saying the Maldivian people have given him a "strong mandate" to make this request to New Delhi. In the presidential runoff held in September last year, Muizzu, 45, defeated India-friendly incumbent Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. His government is also reviewing m

First group of Indian troops to be sent back before Mar 10: Prez Muizzu

Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu on Monday said the first group of Indian military personnel will be sent back from the island nation before March 10, while the remaining Indians manning two aviation platforms will be withdrawn by May 10. In his maiden address to Parliament, Muizzu, widely seen as a pro-China leader, said he believes a large majority of Maldivians support his administration with the expectation that they will remove foreign military presence from the country, and recover the lost oceanic territory. He said his administration will not allow any State agreements that may compromise the country's sovereignty, The Edition newspaper reported. Soon after taking oath as the President of Maldives on November 17, Muizzu formally requested India to withdraw 88 military personnel from his country by March 15, saying the Maldivian people have given him a "strong mandate" to make this request to New Delhi. "Diplomatic discussions with other nations that the President can cond

Only 24 Maldives MPs attend People's Majlis, Prez Muizzu delivers address

The government MPs have further moved a no-confidence motion against Deputy Speaker Ahmed Saleem, who is also an MDP MP

1st group of Indian troops to be sent before March 10: Maldives Prez Muizzu

The Maldives said that both sides reviewed the existing bilateral cooperation to improve and enhance the partnership in the fields of defence and security cooperation, etc.

Maldives' main Oppn parties to boycott presidential statement by Muizzu

It is the first session of Parliament this year. The presidential statement will be made on Monday at 9 a.m. by Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu, according to Mihaaru

India-Maldives core group meeting today over presence of Indian military

India and Maldives will hold the second core group meeting in the national capital over the presence of Indian military personnel in the island nation, sources said

Budget 2024: Govt allocates Rs 600 crore as grant to Maldives for FY25

Budget 2024: India has allocated Rs 600 crore as grant to the Maldives in FY25 (BE). This is 28.33% lower than RE for FY24, but 50% higher than the Rs 400 allocated in BE for FY24

Reached mutual visa cooperation deal with Maldives to boost tourism: China

China on Wednesday said it has worked out a comprehensive mutual visa cooperation agreement with 23 countries, including the Maldives amid Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu's efforts to woo more Chinese tourists to the Indian Ocean island nation. Beijing is currently trying to work out either visa-free or liberalising visa procedures with various countries to boost the declining number of international tourists to China and to enable its citizens to travel abroad more freely. China's visa-free 'circle of friends' continues to expand, and more and more countries have officially entered the 'visa-free era'," Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told the media here. He said that so far China has concluded mutual visa exemption agreements covering different passports with 157 countries. So far, China has concluded mutual visa exemption agreements covering different passports with 157 countries, reached agreements or arrangements on simplified visa procedures with 44 countries, and .

Maldives' top lawyer, appointed by Oppn, attacked amid political turmoil

Hussain Shameem, appointed by the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), was rushed to the Maldives's ADK Hospital and is currently receiving treatment

Amid diplomatic spat, India slips to 5th spot on Maldives' tourism chart

In 2023, India was the biggest tourism market for Maldives, with a market share of 11.1%

Amid diplomatic row, Maldives Prez Muizzu conveys greetings on 75th R-Day

President Muizzu also expressed hope for continued peace, progress, and prosperity for the Indian government and the people for the coming years

PM reiterates call to promote domestic tourism, urges 9 pledges for people

Addressing the foundation stone-laying ceremony of Khodaldham Trust Cancer Hospital in Gujarat, PM Modi urged fellow countrymen to take nine solemn pledges, including promoting tourism in the country

EAM Jaishankar holds bilateral meet with counterparts from Egypt, Belarus

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday held a series of bilateral meetings with his counterparts from Egypt, the Maldives, Angola and Belarus during which he discussed with them issues of mutual interests and expanding cooperation in the multilateral fora. Jaishankar, who arrived in the Ugandan capital city of Kampala to represent India at the two-day summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) beginning Friday, held a "frank conversation" with his Maldivian counterpart Moosa Zameer on bilateral ties. "Met Maldives FM @MoosaZameer today in Kampala. A frank conversation on India-Maldives ties. Also discussed NAM related issues," Jaishankar posted on X, sharing a photograph of the meeting. He also met Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and appreciated "his assessment and insights on the ongoing conflict in Gaza". "Delighted to meet Egyptian FM Sameh Shoukry," Jaishankar posted on X along with a photograph of the meeting. "We also noted the continued progress of our ...

Explained: Why does President Muizzu want Indian troops out of Maldives?

Bilateral relationship between India and Maldives involves defence cooperation, with Indian soldiers training Maldivian counterparts in combat, reconnaissance, and participating in rescue operations

UP restaurant offers free chole bhature for cancelling Maldives trip

A restaurant chain in Noida and Ghaziabad is giving away a dish of their 'special chole bhature' for free to anyone who has booked a vacation to Lakshadweep or cancelled their visit to the Maldives