India-Maldives Relations: Defence Minister Mohammed Ghassan Maumoon To Visit India

Maldivian Defence Minister Mohammed Ghassan Maumoon is set to begin a three-day visit to India on Wednesday. This visit aims to strengthen bilateral ties as relations between the two nations improve. It marks Maumoon's first trip to India since Mohamed Muizzu, a pro-China leader, became President in November 2023.

During his stay, Maumoon will travel to New Delhi, Goa, and Mumbai. He is scheduled for extensive discussions with India's Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and other senior officials. The meeting with Singh will take place in New Delhi on January 8, as per the Ministry of Defence.

India-Maldives Defence Cooperation

The Ministry of Defence stated that the leaders will evaluate various aspects of defence cooperation. This includes training, joint exercises, and defence projects aimed at enhancing the Maldives National Defence Forces' capabilities. They will also discuss the supply of defence equipment.

"The Maldives occupies a special place in India's 'Neighbourhood First' policy, which aims to bring stability and prosperity in the Indian Ocean Region," said the Ministry. "Both nations are key players in maintaining the safety and security of IOR, thus contributing to India's vision of Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR)," it added.

Recent Developments in India-Maldives Relations

The Maldives is a crucial maritime neighbour for India in the Indian Ocean Region. Under Male's previous government, bilateral ties, especially in defence and security, saw significant growth. However, relations strained after Muizzu took office in November 2023 due to his pro-China stance.

Immediately after taking office, Muizzu demanded that Indian military personnel leave his country. Consequently, civilians replaced them. Despite this initial tension, relations began to thaw when Muizzu pledged to enhance ties with India during his October visit to Delhi.

Recently, foreign ministers S Jaishankar from India and Abdulla Khaleel from the Maldives met to reaffirm their commitment to bilateral cooperation. They signed an MoU for implementing projects in the Maldives under India's grant assistance.

This visit by Maumoon signals a shift towards recalibrating security ties between India and the Maldives. It comes over eight months after India withdrew its military personnel following President Muizzu's demand.