Page 2 - Maldives India Relations

Maldives key partner in ensuring free & secure Indo-Pacific region: US

Describing the Maldives as a key partner in ensuring a free, open, secure, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region, the United States on Thursday said it is committed to strengthening cooperation with the South Asian island nation. US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Donald Lu was in the Maldives recently for talks with its new leadership and the civil society. "The United States is committed to strengthening cooperation with Maldives, a key partner in ensuring a free, open, secure, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region," a State Department spokesperson told PTI when asked about the assistant secretary's visit from January 29-31. While in Mal, Lu met with Mohamed Muizzu and other senior officials to discuss shared priorities, including defense cooperation, economic growth, and democratic governance. "They also discussed progress on establishing the US Embassy in Maldives that will further strengthen our partnership and people-to-people ties," the spokesperson said.

Amid diplomatic spat, India slips to 5th spot on Maldives' tourism chart

In 2023, India was the biggest tourism market for Maldives, with a market share of 11.1%

UP restaurant offers free chole bhature for cancelling Maldives trip

A restaurant chain in Noida and Ghaziabad is giving away a dish of their 'special chole bhature' for free to anyone who has booked a vacation to Lakshadweep or cancelled their visit to the Maldives

Maldivian President Muizzu asks India to withdraw troops by March 15

Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu has asked India to withdraw its military personnel from his country by March 15, a senior official here said on Sunday, nearly two months after Male sought their removal. According to the latest government figures, there are 88 Indian military personnel in the Maldives. In a press briefing, Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim, the public policy secretary at the President's Office, said that President Muizzu has formally asked India to withdraw its military personnel by March 15, the SunOnline newspaper reported. Indian military personnel cannot stay in the Maldives. This is the policy of President Dr Mohamed Muizzu and that of this administration, he said. Maldives and India have set up a high-level core group to negotiate the withdrawal of troops. The group held its first meeting at the Foreign Ministry Headquarters in Male' on Sunday morning. The meeting was also attended by Indian High Commissioner Munu Mahawar, the report said. Nazim confirmed the meeting

India-Maldives row: Alliance Air starts additional flights to Lakshadweep

Amid the ongoing India-Maldives row, Alliance Air the only airline that operates to Lakshadweep has started additional flights

3 Maldivian ministers suspended indefinitely for remarks against PM Modi

The Maldives Association of Tourism Industry (MATI) has strongly condemned derogatory remarks made by officials in the tourism-dependent country

Maldives Prez Muizzu meets Chinese counterpart Xi amid row with India

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday held talks with his Maldivian counterpart Mohamed Muizzu, who is on a five-day state visit, amid a diplomatic row with India over derogatory remarks by his ministers against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. President Muizzu was accorded a red carpet welcome and a 21-gun salute. Official media reported that Xi and Muizzu held talks, without sharing the details. Muizzu, who is regarded as a pro-China leader, is visiting China amid the row with India after some Maldivian ministers posted derogatory remarks against Prime Minister Modi leading to a spate of cancellations of reservations by Indian tourists, who constitute the largest number of visitors to the tourism-dependent island nation. Besides talks with Xi, Muizzu is expected to meet Chinese Premier Li Qiang and other senior officials before his return to Male on January 12. Muizzu reached Beijing last night after staying in the Chinese city of Fujian for two days. In his address to the Mal

Anti-India narratives in Maldives fostered by foreign powers: Male official

Amid an ongoing diplomatic row with the Maldives, Syed Tanveer Nasreen, the former director of the Indian Cultural Centre in the island nation, has underscored that the prevailing situation is not isolated but a manifestation of a prolonged anti-India sentiment, fostered by foreign powers. Nasreen, who served as the director of the Indian Cultural Centre at the High Commission of India in Male, Republic of Maldives, from 2019 to 2023, shared insights into the growing influence of China and Pakistan in countering India's soft power. In an interview with PTI, she lamented the ongoing diplomatic row as "unfortunate" and cautioned against reactionary sentiments such as the "Boycott Maldives" movement, viewing them as potential fuel for the "India Out" campaign and undue importance of the now-suspended Maldivian ministers' remarks on social media, targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "What has been going on is very unfortunate, and I condemn the remarks made by the now-deposed three .

Won't accept derogatory comments on our PM: Sharad Pawar on Maldives row

In a press conference, the NCP chief stressed the importance of respecting the Prime Minister and his post

New airport for army, civilian aircraft in Lakshadweep's Minicoy on cards

From the military point of view, the airfield would give India a strong capability as it can be used as a base to keep an eye on the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean region

'India our 911 call', says former Maldives minister amid row. Top points

The Maldives government has suspended three deputy ministers for making disparaging remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Maldives president courts investors in China as ties with India sag

Muizzu said his government was keen to explore partnerships under Belt and Road, including the expansion of the country's central airport and commercial port

Remarks against PM Modi do not represent views of people: Maldivian govt

The Maldivian government on Monday informed India's High Commissioner Munu Muhawar that the derogatory remarks made by three now-suspended deputy ministers against Prime Minister Narendra Modi do not represent its views. The Indian High Commissioner met Dr Ali Naseer Mohamed, the Ambassador-at-Large at the Foreign Ministry, according to the Sun Online. A top Maldivian government official said that during the meeting, Naseer made it clear that the remarks do not reflect the views of the Maldivian government, and reaffirmed Maldives' continued support for its neighbour, the website reported. The Maldivian foreign ministry said the government is aware of "derogatory remarks" on social media platforms against foreign leaders and that the personal views do not represent its position. The meeting came after India summoned Maldivian envoy Ibrahim Shaheeb on Monday to the external affairs ministry and conveyed strong concern over remarks posted on social media against the Prime Minister by

Vistara airlines to monitor demand for flights amid India-Maldives row

Amid the India-Maldives row, full service carrier Vistara on Monday said it will monitor the demand for flights between the two countries as the "situation is evolving right now". Vistara operates one flight each daily from Mumbai and Delhi to Male. Airline's Chief Commercial Officer Deepak Rajawat said it has not cancelled anything as of now and will monitor the demand for flights. "The situation is very evolving right now... we will have to monitor in a week or so," he said at a briefing in response to queries about the Maldives situation. Air India, IndiGo and SpiceJet also operate flights to the Maldives. There were no comments from the three airlines on the current situation. India has conveyed its strong concerns to Maldives over remarks posted on social media against Prime Minister Narendra Modi by a number of ministers of that country. The disparaging remarks by the ministers have drawn flak in India, with many celebrities urging people on X to explore domestic tourist ..

Indian envoy meets Maldivian official in Male amid row over remarks on PM

In a post that has now been deleted, the Maldivian Deputy Minister of Youth Empowerment, Mariyam Shiuna, made a mocking and disrespectful reference to PM Modi

MakeMyTrip launches 'Beaches of India' campaign after India-Maldives row

The online travel platform reported a 3,400 per cent increase in searches for Lakshadweep after PM Modi's visit last week

EaseMyTrip suspends flight bookings to Maldives over tourism row with India

Maldivian ministers mocked PM Modi's visit to Lakshadweep, stating that India could not compete in terms of tourism

Maldives Foreign Minister calls remarks against PM Modi 'unacceptable'

In a post shared on X, Zameer stated, "The recent remarks against foreign leaders and our close neighbours are unacceptable and do not reflect the official position of the Government of Maldives"

Why Jaishankar and not PM Modi may attend Maldives president's swearing-in

Archipelagic state's new leader is changing his predecessor's 'India First' policy

Jaishankar, Maldives prez take part in groundbreaking of airport project

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih have jointly participated in groundbreaking ceremony of Hanimaadhoo international airport redevelopment project