New Delhi: Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu arrived at Delhi airport on Sunday for a four-day state visit to India, accompanied by the First Lady of Maldives, Sajidha Mohamed. This is his first official trip to India.
According to local media reports, Muizzu, along with his wife and a senior delegation of Maldivian government officials, traveled on a special flight arranged by the Indian government. An official welcome ceremony is scheduled for Monday.
President His Excellency Dr @MMuizzu and First Lady Madam Sajidha Mohamed arrive in New Delhi, India, for a state visit, at the invitation of Indian President, Her Excellency Droupadi Murmu. The official welcoming ceremony will take place tomorrow. The President and First Lady… pic.twitter.com/7zGtFhuv1K
— The President’s Office (@presidencymv) October 6, 2024
Muizzu will meet PM Modi, President Murmu
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced that during his visit from October 6-10, Muizzu will meet with Indian President Droupadi Murmu and engage in discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on a range of bilateral topics, including trade and tourism. He will also visit Mumbai and Bengaluru for business events.
It’s noteworthy that relations between India and the Maldives have soured since Muizzu assumed the presidency. He is often seen as a pro-China leader. Earlier this year, two of his former ministers made derogatory remarks about Prime Minister Modi on social media, escalating tensions between the two nations. The Maldivian government subsequently dismissed the two ministers in response to the backlash.
Both countries made efforts to restore ties
India also withdrew all its troops from the Maldives by May 10, following a deadline set by the Maldivian government. Despite the earlier tensions, both countries have made efforts to restore relations, particularly after the Maldives acknowledged India’s significant role in its economic development. In June, Prime Minister Modi invited Muizzu to New Delhi to attend his swearing-in ceremony following the Lok Sabha elections.
