It is a remarkable turnaround in the relationship between India and the Maldives, former foreign secretary and now Rajya Sabha lawmaker Harsh Vardhan Shringla told News18 as Prime Minister Narendra Modi landed in Malé on Friday for a two-day visit.
Describing the visit as momentous, Shringla told News18 in an interview that the fact that the President of the Maldives has invited PM Modi as a chief guest for their 60th anniversary celebrations of independence shows the kind of importance the Maldives attaches to the relationship.
“It is a remarkable turnaround in the relationship when one considers that just one and a half years ago, this was the government of the Maldives. But I think in this period they understood that India is a reliable and stable partner, and in times of difficulty, India is the only country they can go to," Shringla said.
“None of this (turnaround) happens by itself…there has been a very strong outreach, and our diplomacy has worked very effectively, and the fact that such a momentous visit is taking place reflects the outcomes of these important initiatives," the former foreign secretary added.
Shringla said India’s policies have been very effective in maintaining consistent support for our immediate neighbours.
“I am sure that the PM’s visit will further reinforce the close ties that are emerging in a very, very important partnership. The Maldives, being a close neighbour of ours in the Indian Ocean, and hence this partnership is very, very critical," he added.
Shringla said it will be an outstanding visit with many deliverables.
“We are undertaking what is one of the largest infrastructure projects ever in the region. The Greater Malé connectivity project is being undertaken by one of our top companies. This will make a remarkable difference to the entire economy and society of the Maldives. PM Modi will be there at a time when this project is very much visible," Shringla told News18.
Two years ago, President Mohamed Muizzu rose to power in the Maldives on an openly “India Out" campaign, making many predict that India could lose one of its closest maritime partners to geopolitical rivals.
India, however, avoided any knee-jerk move and kept pursuing a quiet and steady diplomatic strategy to take relations from strength to strength.
PM Modi has now become the first foreign leader to be received in the Maldives on a State Visit under President Muizzu. He is the Guest of Honour for the Maldives’ 60th Independence Day celebrations—an invitation that shows how far the Maldives has come from the “India Out" sloganeering days.
Since President Muizzu took charge, India has shown that it is a friend in need through economic support, assistance for capacity building and other such endeavours.
India has provided the Maldives with emergency financial aid worth USD 400 million plus Rs 3,000 crore in currency swaps, 13 new MoUs expanding ferry services across the Maldives, and a robust trade and investment footprint crossing USD 548 million.
Under the Joint Vision for Comprehensive Economic and Maritime Security Partnership, India has provided specialised training slots to Maldivian Coast Guard and Defence Force officers at Indian defence academies.
