After suffering loss of Muizzu, there was less swollen, coming to India tour

India-Maldives News: Maldives President Mohammad Mujju will visit India's bilateral tour in the second week of October 2024. The tour will take place from 6 to 10 October. Earlier, Mujju came to India on 9 June, but that tour was to attend the swearing -in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, not for bilateral talks. Now this new tour is considered an important step towards improving relations between the two countries.

Attempt to change bilateral relations

This will be India's first bilateral tour of India after winning the presidential election in 2023. His meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi is proposed on 7 October. The election campaign of the President of Maldives focused on opposition to India, in which he launched a campaign called "India Out". The purpose of this campaign was to reduce the Indian influence in Maldives. Even after becoming President, Mujju took several steps in this direction, causing a sour into relations between the two countries.

Trying to reduce dependence on India

After becoming President, Mujju took several decisions to reduce Maldives' dependence on India. He demanded the removal of 85 Indian military personnel deployed in Maldives, as well as canceled the Joint Hydrographic Survey Agreement conducted with India in 2019. This led to further decline in the relationship between the two countries. Mujju is considered close to China, and after becoming President, he made his first official visit to China. Under his leadership, Maldives has tried to strengthen its relations with countries such as China and Türkiye.

Signs of improvement in India-Maldives relations

However, in recent months, signs of improvement in relations between India and Maldives are visible. India has replaced civil experts in place of two helicopters posted for humanitarian missions in Maldives and military personnel deployed for operation and maintenance of one aircraft. This step was taken to balance military cooperation between the two countries. Subsequently, Mujju was suddenly invited to Prime Minister Modi's swearing -in ceremony, indicating positive changes in bilateral relations.

Mujju's proximity with China

Mujju is considered close to China and has tried to turn Maldives' foreign policy towards China. His stance has been challenging for India, especially when the Maldives is strategically important in the South Asian region. This bilateral tour of Mujju is also important because it has to be seen in which direction they take relations with India.

Conclusion

Mohammad Muizu's visit to India may begin a new chapter in bilateral relations. Even though the Maldives under the leadership of Mujju have tried to increase their distance from India, recent events indicate that the two countries are trying to bring the relations back on track. The talks between Prime Minister Modi and President Mujju will make it clear from which direction of Maldives-India relations are moving and how will the future of mutual cooperation between the two countries.