Maldives President, Pro-Chinese, Seeks Debt Relief From 'Closest Ally' India: Report

According to the latest interview with the local media, the acknowledgement was made by Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu of India's significant role in providing aid to the Maldives, stating that India has implemented the "greatest number" of projects.

It was urged that New Delhi consider providing debt relief to the archipelago nation, which owed approximately USD 400.9 million to India by the end of last year.

Photo Credit: PTI

Maldives President Urges India for Debt Relief

The enduring bond between the Maldives and India was stressed by President Muizzu, mentioning that India would continue to be the Maldives' closest ally. A report by Maldives news portal Edition. mv carried excerpts of Muizzu's interview to its Dhivehi language sister-publication 'Mihaaru,' reported Hindustan Times.

During the interview, it was urged by Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu for India to consider debt relief measures for the Maldives due to the burden of significant loans taken over multiple governments. Muizzu highlighted that discussions were underway to investigate potential leniencies in the repayment terms of the significant loans obtained from India, attributing this need to the prevailing conditions inherited by the Maldives.

He emphasized the importance of continuing ongoing projects without interruption to maintain the momentum, expressing confidence that this approach would not negatively impact relations between the Maldives and India.

Under the previous administration led by Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, said to be pro-India, loans from the Export and Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) totalled USD 1.4 million (MVR 22 million). As of last year, Maldives owed approximately MVR 6.2 billion to India, roughly USD 400.9 million at the current exchange rate, as reported by Hindustan Times.

On the matter of Indian military presence in the Maldives, President Mohamed Muizzu stated that it is "the only matter of contention" with the neighbourhood. He mentioned that both countries had acknowledged this issue, with India agreeing to withdraw its military presence.

"It is not nice to dismiss or disregard aid from one country to another as useless," he said and claimed that he had not taken any action or made any statements that may strain the relationship between the two countries.

"Even if they are troops of some other country, we will deal with them in the same manner. I have said so very clearly. It is nothing personal but rather a matter of our national security," he added.

Regarding the deployment of civilians instead of military personnel to operate helicopters and aircraft, the decision was defended by Muizzu as pragmatic, as reported.