India’s External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar is currently on a three-day official visit to the Maldives, where he is scheduled to meet with key Maldivian leaders to strengthen bilateral relations. On Saturday, EAM Jaishankar will engage in discussions with Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu to “further enhance” the partnership between the two countries.
In addition to his meeting with President Muizzu, EAM Jaishankar will also hold talks with Maldivian Defence Minister Mohamed Ghassan Maumoon. The discussions will focus on deepening defence and security cooperation, reflecting the shared interests and challenges faced by the two nations in maintaining regional peace and security.
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“As neighbors, we face common challenges and have a shared interest in maintaining peace and security in the region. Our defence and security cooperation is aim at addressing these challenges,” Jaishankar mentions in a statement on Friday.
Spectrum Of Bilateral Issues
Upon arriving in Malé earlier in the day, EAM Jaishankar met with his Maldivian counterpart, Moosa Zameer. The meeting covered a broad spectrum of bilateral issues, including development partnerships, defence and maritime cooperation, capacity building, economic and trade relations, and people-to-people links.
“I reiterated India’s unwavering support for the Maldives’ progress and prosperity,” EAM Jaishankar told the media after the meeting. He emphasize that India’s development cooperation is closely knot to global and regional development, particularly with its neighbors. “Development cooperation has become a crucial aspect of our partnership with the Maldives,” he added.
The EAM highlights that India’s relationship with the Maldives is on a mutual commitment to each other’s welfare and interests. “This partnership has allowed us to respond effectively to challenges, as demonstrated in the past,” he said.
Jaishankar also described the Maldives as a central element of India’s ‘Neighborhood First’ policy. “In the words of Prime Minister Narendra Modi – for India, the neighborhood is a priority, and within that, the Maldives is a priority. We share a deep bond of history and kinship,” he noted.
During his visit, EAM Jaishankar will also meet with the Maldivian Ministers of Economic Development and Finance to further discuss areas of collaboration and mutual interest.
