Rijiju meets Maldives' new President Muizzu; reiterates India’s commitment to further bolster bilateral ties

Kiren Rijiju met new Maldivian President Muizzu and reiterated India's commitment to strengthen ties. India's 'Neighbourhood First Policy' was underscored. Rijiju also visited a 4,000 social housing units project and attended an inaugural reception hosted by Muizzu.

A day after attending his inaugural ceremony, Indian Union Minister Kiren Rijiju on Saturday met the new Maldivian President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu and reiterated India’s commitment to further strengthen the substantive bilateral cooperation and robust people-to-people ties.

Mr. Muizzu, 45, took oath on Friday as the eighth President of the strategically-located archipelago nation in the Indian Ocean. Underscoring India’s ‘Neighbourhood First Policy’, Mr. Rijiju represented the country at Mr. Muizzu’s inauguration ceremony.

“Privileged to call on President H.E. Dr. Mohamed Muizzu. Conveyed greetings from Hon’ble PM @NarendraModi and reiterated India’s commitment to further strengthen the substantive bilateral cooperation and robust people-to-people ties,” Mr. Rijiju posted on X after the meeting.

A close associate of former Maldives President Abdulla Yameen, who forged close ties with China during his Presidency from 2013 to 2018, Mr. Muizzu defeated India-friendly incumbent Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in the Presidential runoff held in September.

Maldives is India’s key maritime neighbour in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and occupies a special place in the Prime Minister’s vision of ‘SAGAR’ (Security and Growth for All in the Region) and the ‘Neighbourhood First Policy.’

Maldives’ proximity to the west coast of India (barely 70 nautical miles away from Minicoy and 300 nautical miles away from India’s West coast), and its situation at the hub of commercial sea lanes running through the Indian Ocean gives it significant strategic importance to India.