• Source:JND

Maldives president Mohammad Muizzu, who arrived in New Delhi on Sunday for a four-day visit, has assured that Maldives will never take any action that could compromise India's security. Muizzu, who is known to be close to Chinese administration, affirmed that the Maldives' relations with China will not jeopardise India's security priorities. 

The Maldives-India ties had been strained as India was asked to remove its troops from the island nation, and it further escalated after the mockery of Prime Minister Modi by the Maldives' minister, causing massive uproar in India. 

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“Maldives would never do anything that undermines the security of India. India is a valued partner and friend of the Maldives, and our relationship is built on mutual respect and shared interests. While we enhance our cooperation with other countries in various sectors, we remain committed to ensuring that our actions don’t compromise the security and stability of our region,” Muizzu said in an interview with The Times of India.

The Maldivian president also claimed that he has nothing against India and that the removal of Indian troops from the island was just to prioritise Maldives' domestic interests. "Maldives and India now have a better understanding of each other's priorities and concerns. What I did is what the people of the Maldives asked of me. The recent changes reflect our efforts to address domestic priorities. Our review of past agreements is aimed at ensuring they align with our national interests and contribute positively to regional stability," he said.

Last year, Moizzu came to power by emphasising the "India Out" campaign. However, in his recent visit to the US, he claimed that he is willing to work with India. He further claimed that he took action against the minister who mocked PM Modi. Muizzu met with external affairs minister S Jaishankar on Sunday and is set to meet President Murmu and PM Modi on his second visit to India since he attended Modi's searing-in ceremony in June.