BFF-42 Modi to attend Maldives president’s inauguration in boost to ties

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INDIA-DIPLOMACY-MALDIVES-CHINA

Modi to attend Maldives president’s inauguration in boost to ties

NEW DELHI, Nov 9, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will
attend the inauguration of Maldives president-elect Ibrahim Mohamed Solih as
the neighbours look to reset ties following the exit of a pro-Chinese
government.

India, a traditional ally of the Maldives, was sidelined by the
administration of President Abdulla Yameen who forged closer ties with
Beijing.

Modi will make his maiden visit to the Indian Ocean archipelago for the
November 17 swearing-in of Solih who defeated Yameen in a September 23
election after a bitterly contested campaign.

“The prime minister has accepted the invitation with pleasure in keeping
up with the neighbourhood first policy,” Indian foreign ministry spokesman
Raveesh Kumar told reporters on Friday.

“India looks forward to closely working with Maldives in further deepening
our partnership,” he added.

Modi cancelled one Maldives visit in 2015 after former president Mohamed
Nasheed was detained under Yameen’s administration. The small island nation
has strategic importance, falling in international sea lanes as well as being
close to India.

Ties between the two countries nosedived in 2012 after pro-India leader
Nasheed was ousted in a coup followed by the controversial election victory
of Yameen in 2013.

Yameen’s administration accepted major Chinese investments to boost the
country’s infrastructure and economy, which is mostly driven by tourism. The
Maldives now has major debts to China. Yameen declared a state of emergency
in February further straining the relationship with New Delhi. Some Indian
politicians called for a military intervention to remove Yameen.

Yameen’s administration jailed judges and several opposition leaders. But
under international pressure, Yameen called the September vote which Solih
overwhelmingly won.

BSS/AFP/SSS/1944 hrs