Maldives President calls 1st India visit 'a success', bats for stronger ties

President of the Maldives Mohamed Muizzu has hailed his first official visit to India as a major success, saying that he hoped it leads to stronger bilateral relations between the two nations.

"God willing, the strong ties between the two nations will result in increased prosperity for the Maldives and Maldivians alike," Muizzu, known for his pro-China leanings, told a state-run broadcaster after his visit to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Council of Ministers.

Muizzu, who was invited by PM Modi, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to hold high-level meetings with the Prime Minister, President Droupadi Murmu, and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. "This trip has been a success for the Maldives and for the region too," he said.

Accompanied by a high-level government delegation, President Muizzu met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Sunday. They discussed various issues and attended a banquet together, where Muizzu was seated beside PM Modi.

In his meeting with President Murmu, the Maldivian leader expressed his gratitude for the warm hospitality and acknowledged India’s continuous assistance to the Maldives. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also met with Muizzu, expressing hope for closer cooperation between the two nations in the future.

Muizzu’s visit follows a recent visit by the Maldives Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer to India as the two nations walk a diplomatic tightrope after relations nosedived last year when the newly sworn-in President demanded the withdrawal of all Indian military personnel operating three aviation platforms from his country.

A massive row had erupted over derogatory remarks made by Maldivian ministers about PM Modi on social media, resulting in a Boycott Maldives call in India that put a dent in the coffers of the island nation, where the tourism sector is its "lifeblood".

Muizzu's visit is being viewed as a significant step in reviving relations between India and the Maldives.

(With PTI inputs)