S Jaishankar To Begin 3-Day Maldives Visit Today Amid Strained Ties

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will today begin his three-day official visit to the Maldives, the first high-level trip from New Delhi after ties between the two countries deteriorated since the island nation's pro-China president, Mohamed Muizzu, assumed office nearly nine months ago.

Mr Jaishankar's visit follows the June 9 visit of Mr Muizzu to India for the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Union Council of Ministers. It was Mr Muizzu's inaugural official visit to India since assuming office in November last year.

"Maldives is India's key maritime neighbour and an important partner in India's 'Neighbourhood First' policy and our vision 'SAGAR' - Security and Growth for All in the Region," the Ministry of External Affairs said in an official statement announcing Mr Jaishankar's visit.

The visit is aimed at strengthening the close partnership between the two countries and to explore avenues to enhance the bilateral relationship further, the statement read further.

Mr Jaishankar had previously visited the Maldives in January 2023.

Earlier in May, Maldives Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer had made an official visit to India and met Mr Jaishankar.

The relations between India and the Maldives came under severe strain since Mr Muizzu took charge of the top office. He had campaigned for the presidency on an "India-out" stance.

Within hours of his oath, he had demanded the withdrawal of Indian military personnel from his country. Subsequently, the Indian military personnel were replaced by civilians.

The ties strained further after three Maldivian deputy ministers made derogatory remarks against India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on social media. The remarks came after PM Modi posted photos and video of the pristine Lakshadweep Islands on India's west coast in January on his official X handle.

The Maldivian government had then suspended the three ministers after opposition leaders slammed the "appalling language" used by the officials against PM Modi.

The Maldives is one of India's key maritime neighbours in the Indian Ocean region and the overall bilateral ties, including in the areas of defence and security, witnessed an upward trajectory under the previous government in Male.