Central External Affairs Minister Jaishankar’s visit to Maldives has conveyed a message of success and also a message to the Government of Bangladesh. Let’s see a news package about what it is.
Indian External Affairs Minister Jaishankar, who visited Malad Island for 2 days as an official visit last week, met Maldives President Mohammad Muisu. During this meeting, the leaders of the two countries discussed various issues including improving bilateral relations. Central Minister Jaishankar also met other leaders including Leader of Opposition Abdullah Shahid.
India’s relations with the Maldives have been strained ever since Mohammed Muisu was reinstated as president. Within hours of his inauguration, he ordered the withdrawal of Indian military personnel manning the three air bases provided by India to the Maldives. After negotiations between the two countries, civilians were replaced by Indian soldiers.
It is in this context that the President and his ministers and senior government officials have given Central Minister Jaishankar a red carpet welcome.
The President of Maldives, Mohamed Muisu, has said that he will not allow anything against his government’s foreign policy in the Maldives and that he will follow the same foreign policy that prioritizes the interests of the Maldives.
Describing India as a close and important ally of the Maldives, President Mohamed Muisu assured that his government would be fully committed to strengthening the historic and close ties between the two countries.
The fact that the President of Maldives, who used to be the voice of China asking India to leave, has now taken a stand to support India is seen as a major turning point in the country’s politics.
Maldives’ main opposition leader, the Maldivian Democratic Party, Abdullah Shahid, has welcomed President Mohamed Muisu’s government’s stabilization of foreign policy with India. He also said that the people of Maldives believe that India will always be the first to help in times of emergency.
Already, the Maldives budget has a deficit of up to two hundred million US dollars. The Maldives is forced to repay a billion US dollars in debt by 2026.
Because of this, even though the President of Maldives, Mohamed Muisu, has tried to get financial assistance from many countries including Turkey, China, Middle Eastern countries, all those countries generally come forward to provide loans through banks based on the market value. Further borrowing is likely to have dire consequences for the Maldives.
In this case, India has given 50 million US dollars to Maldives last May. Another 50 million US dollars will be disbursed in September.
While none of the countries including China have come forward to help the Maldives, which is in severe economic crisis, the central government led by Prime Minister Modi is helping.
It was India that helped Sri Lanka when Sri Lanka was already in political crisis and stuck in economic problems. Even when the country of Nepal was in economic crisis, India gave a helping hand.
Now, due to the political crisis, Bangladesh is also facing severe economic crisis.
In this case, Central Minister Jaishankar’s visit to Maldives has conveyed an important message to Bangladesh that Prime Minister Modi’s India cannot be belittled and that India is the best protector of India’s neighbours.
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