Discussions held on opening previously opposed Indian consulate in Addu

Maldivian President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi engaged in discussions on Monday regarding opening an Indian consulate in Addu City – something the now ruling PPM-PNC had opposed back during the MDP administration.

President Muizzu, who is on a five-day state visit to New Delhi, met with PM Modi for bilateral talks on Monday afternoon.

The topics discussed include opening a Maldivian consulate in Bangalore and an Indian consulate in Addu.

Maldives and India had initiated talks regarding opening an Indian consulate during former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s administration, at the height of PPM-PNC coalition’s ‘India Out’ campaign. They portrayed it as a potential threat to Maldives’ national security.

Relations between Male’ and New Delhi had been strained in the early days of President Muizzu’s presidency after he demanded that India withdraw its troops from Maldives – executing a pledge he made during his presidential campaign. Things escalated further after three Maldivian deputy ministers made disparaging remarks regarding India and Indian Prime Minister Modi on the social media platform X.

Maldives Foreign Ministry was quick to distance itself from the remarks, saying that they do not represent the views of the Male’ government. The three junior ministers were suspended, and two of them – Mariyam Shiuna and Malsha Shareef resigned last month.

Despite the earlier turmoil, officials from both Male’ and Delhi have repeatedly expressed keenness to maintaining relations between the two countries.

President Muizzu’s current visit to India has seen Male’ and New Delhi sign a USD 400 million currency swap agreement, and the introduction of RuPay card service in the Maldives.