Indian High Commissioner pays farewell call on President Muizzu

High Commissioner of India to the Maldives Munu Mahawar has paid a farewell call on President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu.

During the meeting held at the President’s Office, President Muizzu expressed his appreciation for the High Commissioner’s efforts to strengthen India-Maldives relations. On this note, he said the High Commissioner’s tenure coincided with a pivotal phase in Maldives-India relations, during which the friendship and bilateral cooperation between the nations experienced significant revitalization.

High Commissioner Mahawar reaffirmed India’s support for the development of the Maldives and commended President Muizzu’s leadership and collaborative approach which he states has helped address shared challenges and further strengthened the ties between the two countries.

The President and the High Commissioner reflected on the President’s state visit to India back in October during which both nations agreed on A Vision for Comprehensive Economic and Maritime Security Partnership which laid groundwork for elevating the existing development partnership. They also highlighted the progress being made through India’s generous commitments and assistance in implementing economic reforms and improving social welfare in the Maldives.

Both sides expressed confidence in the ability of both countries to maintain the positive trajectory established and to ensure the timely completion of agreed initiatives. They also discussed the potential for expanding avenues of cooperation in the future.

The President extended his best wishes to the High Commissioner for his future endeavors and expressed his eagerness to continue advancing the development partnership with the incoming High Commissioner.

Mahawar assumed the role of India’s top envoy in the Maldives in November 2021.

He had weathered the role through some of the most turbulent times in relations between Male’ and New Delhi.

G. Balasubramanian, who the Indian External Affairs Ministry named as Mahawar’s replacement earlier this week, will step into his new role as Maldives and India repairs and seeks to reinforce historic cultural and economic times.

Notably, 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 following a social media post promoting India’s Lakshadweep as an alternative tourist destination to the Maldives.

The 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 ahead of the current state visit.

But despite the earlier turmoil, officials from both Male’ and Delhi repeatedly expressed keenness to maintain relations and engaged in several high-level visits between the two countries, including two visits from President Muizzu himself. 

Subsequently, tensions between the two neighboring nations have dissipated.