Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu Seeks Debt Relief From India, Calls India “Closest Ally”

Male: Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu has extended an olive branch to India, reaffirming the bilateral ties and urging for debt relief amid strained relations. Muizzu labelled India as Maldives’ “closest ally.”

Muizzu, who had previously demanded the repatriation of Indian military personnel, emphasized India’s significant role in aiding the Maldives.

The Maldives, indebted to India with approximately USD 400.9 million, seeks debt relief amid economic challenges. Muizzu underscored the importance of ongoing projects and urged India to consider leniencies in loan repayments.

This reconciliatory stance comes ahead of parliamentary elections and amidst Muizzu’s recent pro-China overtures, including a strategic partnership with Beijing and infrastructure agreements. However, Muizzu clarified that while pursuing relations with China, Maldives remains committed to its ties with India.

Despite tensions over the presence of Indian military personnel, Muizzu emphasized resolving the issue through discussions, maintaining that aid from any country, including India, is valuable for the Maldives’ development.