Maldivian Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer, currently on his inaugural visit to India, has taken a clear stance distancing his government from the derogatory remarks made by some of its ministers towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Zameer’s comments have come at a time when the two nations seek to navigate cautiously through this diplomatic rough patch.
In an earnest discussion with ANI, Foreign Minister Zameer underscored the Maldivian government’s viewpoint, stating, “I think if you have seen, like you said, we have said that it’s not the stand of the government or it’s not the view of the government. And we believe it shouldn’t have been done. And then we are taking proper action to make sure that this don’t repeat.”
Zameer highlighted the apparent communication breakdown that exacerbated tensions, indicating that most of the misunderstanding arose from social media interactions. However, he asserted that both governments, India’s and Maldives’, have transcended this challenging phase. The incident in question generated substantial ripples across diplomatic channels following a series of denigrating posts by three Maldivian officials about PM Modi.
In response to these remarks, Maldives Deputy Youth Ministers Mariyam Shiuna, Mahzoom Majid, and Malsha Shareef received indefinite suspensions. Despite this disciplinary action, as reported by Maldives local media Adhadhu, the President’s Office confirmed that the three individuals would maintain their salaries. Communications Minister Ibrahim Khaleel, from the President’s Office, described the suspension as a necessary interval to further review the matter.
Adding to the complexity of the situation, the tourism industry in the Maldives, which greatly benefits from visits by Indian tourists, is confronting the possibility of dwindling numbers due to the controversy. Addressing the potential impacts on tourism, Minister Zameer delivered an earnest invitation to Indian travelers and stressed the government’s dedication to restoring and solidifying ties with India.
“I think the Minister of Tourism has clearly said that he would like to welcome and I like myself to welcome all Indians who would like to travel to Maldives. But I think in the long term, once we move forward because if you’re seen in the last eight months, in Maldives and India, we are going through election cycles. So I think we will move beyond that phase pretty soon and we would like all Indian tourists to come back,” said Zameer.
Zameer also provided an optimistic overview of recent tourism trends, acknowledging a significant surge in Indian holidaymakers traveling to the Maldives post-COVID—a trend showcasing an initial increase of 16-17 percent followed by a subsequent decline. Nonetheless, he expressed confidence in a swift recovery for the tourism sector.
Amidst these already strained relations, comes another chapter involving the presence of Indian military personnel in the Maldives. The administration under President Mohamed Muizzu, who campaigned on a promise to remove Indian troops, has urged India to withdraw its forces by May 10. Ahead of this, India commenced replacing its defence personnel in April, as confirmed by the MEA, with the first batch of technical personnel arriving in the Maldives.
There have been two high-level core group meetings between the two nations, and a third is anticipated to occur shortly. This military aspect became a significant element of President Muizzu’s party’s election campaign, sparking intense discussion as approximately 70 Indian troops operate in the Maldives, supported by Dornier 228 maritime patrol aircraft and two HAL Dhruv helicopters.
Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer’s visit to India represents an effort to recalibrate bilateral ties and reaffirm the longstanding association between India and the Maldives as they work collectively to navigate past these disputes and continue fostering a constructive relationship between the two South Asian neighbors.
