Maldives’ main Opp welcomes govt’s ‘sudden recalibration’ of its India policy

Male, Aug 11: The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has welcomed President Mohammad Muizzu-led government’s “sudden recalibration” of its India policy and said Male has always been confident that India will always be the first responder any time the Maldives “dials an international 911”.
Abdulla Shahid, the president of the main opposition, made remarks after he met External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar here on Saturday.
The MDP president said that his party “calls on the Muizzu government to issue a public apology for the actions, lies and irresponsible comments from its officials which have resulted in significant damage to the Maldives’ foreign and economic outlook.”
Jaishankar is on a three-day official visit to the Maldives to reset the bilateral relationship, the first high-level trip from India after the archipelago nation’s pro-China President Muizzu assumed office last year.
“The Maldives has always been confident that India will always be the first responder any time the Maldives “dials an international 911”,” Shahid, the former foreign minister, said in a statement posted on ‘X’ late Saturday night.
He said the “current government’s initial stoking of anti-India sentiments through aggressive slogans, mockery and the branding of a time-tested friend and development partner as a regional bully, has caused a decline in the Maldives international standing, economic loss, and many other unnecessary difficulties, and challenges.” “With this in mind, the MDP welcomes the sudden recalibration of the Maldives-India policy of President Muizzu’s government, from its previous India Out policy,” Shahid said.
President Muizzu, however, said on Sunday that his administration has not recalibrated its foreign policy but has maintained the same policy since day one.
India’s relationship with the Maldives has come under severe strain since Muizzu took charge as the President late last year. On Saturday, President Muizzu described India as “one of the closest allies” and reaffirmed his administration’s full commitment to strengthening the ties between the two countries. (PTI)