Maldives and India look to move forward, give direction to ties
foreign minister Moosa Zameer on Thursday indicated the Muizzu government's willingness to work with India amid external affairs minister S Jaishankar's emphasis that bilateral ties were based on mutual interests and reciprocal sensitivity.
The two sides, during Jaishankar-Zameer meeting, discussed the state of various India-funded projects in Maldives. Each side presented respective viewpoints on the projects that are developmental in nature and scope, sources informed ET.
Zameer's visit to India amid anti-India rhetoric in Maldives is a signal that neighbours are trying to arrive at a working relationship, sources explained. After resounding victory in parliamentary elections, the Muizzu administration may want to set aside rhetoric and work with India, which has been the first responder to crises in Maldives since its independence, sources said.
In his remarks, Zameer sought to address some of India's concerns and said his country's government was «taking proper action to make sure» that people of the island nation do not make derogatory remarks against India and its leader again.
«We have said that it's not the stand of the government. We believe that it shouldn't have been done. We are taking proper action to make sure that this doesn't get repeated. There has been a misunderstanding on social media. The governments of Maldives and India understand what has happened and we have passed that stage now,» Zameer said.
In January this year, a diplomatic row erupted after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's
