Former Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih suggested Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, the sitting President of Maldives, to fix international ties with India. Solih criticized Muizzu for being stubborn and urged him to maintain friendly relationships with the neighboring countries. The remarks from Solih came after Muizzu, who is believed to maintain a close alliance with China, requested India for debt relief as the archipelagic state faces a financial crisis.
Table of Contents
How Muizzu became the President of Maldives
Mohamed Muizzu, a member of the People’s National Congress, was nominated in the presidential elections after former President Abdulla Yameen was imprisoned with serious corruption charges against him and defeated Mohamed Solih of the Maldivian Democratic Party in the 2023 Presidential elections.
What Mohamed Solih has to say?
According to the news portal Adhadhu.com, Solih, at an event organized for campaigning for upcoming parliamentary elections, said while addressing the rally that the Maldives got into a debt of MVR (Maldivian Rufiyaa) 18 billion owing to China in comparison with an MVR of 8 billion owing to India, with a repayment period of 25 years. He argued that the economic challenges emerged largely due to the money owed to China rather than to India as the debts owed to India are less than half of the debts owed to China.
However, Solih said that he is confident that the neighboring countries as well as the Islamic states of the Middle East would extend their support toward Maldives. He highlighted the importance of engaging in dialogue rather than being obdurate and slammed the Muizzu government for not being willing to compromise. He further criticized the government’s diplomatic strategies referring to the limited assistance received from the Middle East which is only 50 tons of dates.
Solih also accused Muizzu of fooling people and relaunching the schemes that were introduced by the MDP government. He added that the ministers were now covering up those lies.
Diplomatic ties between India and Maldives
Since Muizzu came into power in November the diplomatic ties between India and Maldives deteriorated. The problems further intensified when the cabinet ministers of the Muizzu govt. made offensive comments about the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi’s ‘Chalo Lakshwadeep’ campaign.
The Maldives president voiced a demand to withdraw 88 Indian military personnel operating 3 aviation platforms that were used for humanitarian and medical evacuation in Maldives by May 10. 26 military workforce were already withdrawn and replaced by civilians.
Muizzu broke the Maldivian Presidential tradition of making their first overseas trip to India since he is yet to visit the country after he assumed office in November. However, the president of the archipelago nation has already paid a visit to the Republic of China in January marking it as his first international visit. The president’s deferred visit to India has given rise to concerns about the relationship between both countries.
Mohamed Muizzu trying to ease the situation down
However, to alleviate the growing tension between India and Maldives Mohamed Muizzu has recently said that he hasn’t made any critical comment or done anything to make things bitter with India. He added that India will remain Maldives’ closest ally as it has been for years.
