Realising the concern in New Delhi over some of the recent unsavoury developments in bilateral ties, Maldives President Yameen Abdul Gayoom is sending his Foreign Minister Mohamed Asim to New Delhi on Wednesday to mend fences with India.
Asim, who is visiting India as Special Envoy of the Maldives President, will have a detailed meeting with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to discuss the issues which have affected the relationship. He will also call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to extend him an invitation to visit the Indian Ocean archipelago. The Maldives is the only country in the region Modi has not visited so far.
Male signed a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with China late last year without any debate in the Maldives Parliament, shaking India’s trust in the island nation. The signing of the FTA is perceived as a reversal of the Maldives’ ‘India First’ policy since it came despite an assurance from the President that an FTA with India would be signed first.
After the signing of the Maldives-China FTA, the Ministry of External Affairs had clearly stated that the Maldives should be sensitive to New Delhi’s concerns and keep in mind its “India First” policy.
The growing relationship between the Maldives and China has fuelled India’s fears of China increasing its clout in India’s own backyard.
In another recent incident, the Maldives government suspended three local councillors for meeting the Indian ambassador to Male. Media reports in recent days have also suggested that the Maldivian authorities have imposed undeclared restrictions on the movements of the Indian envoy.