Overcoming a spell of unease in ties, India and Maldives on Monday signed six agreements, including a crucial one on expanding defence cooperation, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and visiting Maldivi
Overcoming a spell of unease in ties, India and Maldives on Monday signed six agreements, including a crucial one on expanding defence cooperation, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and visiting Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom held wide-ranging talks on key issues. While India noted that Maldives had agreed it will be sensitive to Indian security interests, the Maldives said India was its most important friend and that it pursued an “India-first foreign policy”. Importantly, the Maldivian President also sought Indian “protection” on deliberations of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) on his country. The Maldives fears it could be indicted on its human rights record. Combating terrorism and radicalisation, enhancing India’s involvement in major infrastructure projects like development of ports and special economic zones in the Maldives figured in the talks, but the central focus was on defence and security ties. The other agreements signed were in avoidance of double taxation, promotion of tourism, space research and conservation.
The Maldivian President also invited Mr Modi to visit his country.
