India a steadfast supporter of Maldives’ progress, says EAM Jaishankar after talks with Foreign Minister Khaleel
| 2025-01-03
Maldives Foreign Minister Abdullah Khaleel and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar meet in New Delhi on January 3, 2025.
Foreign Minister Khaleel appreciates the timely emergency financial assistance extended by India to Maldives in times of need
India will continue to be a steadfast supporter of Maldives’ progress and prosperity, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said after meeting Maldives Foreign Minister Abdullah Khaleel in New Delhi on Friday (January 3, 2025). The two sides also signed a Memorandum of Understanding for implementation of High Impact Community Development Projects under Phase-III in Maldives, through grant assistance by the Government of India.
“Pleased to welcome FM @abkhaleel of Maldives to New Delhi.
Discussed our development cooperation and economic, security, fintech and people to people ties. Also signed agreement on implementing the next phase of High Impact Community Development Projects #HICDP in Maldives.
India will continue to be a steadfast supporter of Maldives’ progress and prosperity, in line with our Neighbourhood First policy and vision SAGAR,” EAM Jaishankar said on social media platform X.
Foreign Minister Khaleel is on an official visit to India from January 2-4, 2025. It follows the recent state visit of Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu to India in October 2024 when he held bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Maldives a "Concrete Expression" of India's Neighborhood First Policy, says EAM Jaishankar
According to the MEA, during their bilateral discussions, EAM Jaishankar and FM Khaleel took stock of progress made on the understandings reached during talks between Prime Minister Modi and President Muizzu and followed-up on issues that need further focus from both sides.
Welcoming Foreign Minister Khaleel, EAM Jaishankar said, “I think we have some important developments to report, positive developments to report, and certainly there is much more that we need to do. I see that the framework to promote the use of local currencies for cross-border transactions has been signed.”
Reaffirming India's commitment to the Maldives, he described the country as a "concrete expression" of India's Neighborhood First policy.
"We have increased our engagements in various sectors. I do want to say that India has always stood by Maldives. For us, you are a very concrete expression of our neighbourhood's first policy," EAM Jaishankar pointed out. Highlighting the financial support provided by India, he referred to the resubscription of treasury bills and the currency swap of USD 400 million and INR 3,000 crore and described them as “very critical”.
"We have also facilitated the export of essential commodities to Maldives that has been very much a tradition in our relationship. So we certainly hope that our relationship has helped you to navigate through these difficult times,” EAM Jaishankar stated.
Foreign Minister Khaleel, on his part, appreciated the timely emergency financial assistance extended by India to Maldives in times of need, reflecting India's role as the "First Responder" of Maldives. According to the MEA, he reaffirmed President Muizzu and the Government of Maldives’ firm commitment to work closely with the Government of India in realizing the Joint Vision for India-Maldives Comprehensive Economic and Maritime Security Partnership.
“This visit is part of continued high-level engagements between the two sides and has provided an opportunity to further deepen the bilateral ties for the mutual benefit of two countries and the Indian Ocean Region,” the MEA said.
Forging a Comprehensive Economic and Maritime Security Partnership
In October 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Mohamed Muizzu held extensive bilateral talks in New Delhi, aiming to forge a comprehensive economic and maritime security partnership.
Prime Minister Modi pointed out that India is Maldives' closest neighbour and close friend while Maldives has an important place in both India’s"Neighbourhood First" policy and "SAGAR" Vision.
“India has always played the role of a first responder for Maldives. Whether it is fulfilling the need of essential commodities for the people of Maldives, making drinking water available during natural disasters, or providing vaccines during Covid-19, India has always fulfilled its responsibility as a neighbour,” Prime Minister Modi remarked.
Seeking to give a fresh impetus to the special relationship between the two nations, Prime Minister Modi and President Muizzu unveiled a Vision for Comprehensive Economic and Maritime Security Partnership.
A key outcome of the talks was the decision to advance maritime and security cooperation. As part of this, India will support the Maldives “provisioning of defence platforms and assets” to augment the capabilities of the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF). According to the joint vision statement, India will also support Maldives in enhancing surveillance and monitoring capability of MNDF with the provisioning of radar systems and other equipment.
“Pleased to welcome FM @abkhaleel of Maldives to New Delhi.
Discussed our development cooperation and economic, security, fintech and people to people ties. Also signed agreement on implementing the next phase of High Impact Community Development Projects #HICDP in Maldives.
India will continue to be a steadfast supporter of Maldives’ progress and prosperity, in line with our Neighbourhood First policy and vision SAGAR,” EAM Jaishankar said on social media platform X.
Foreign Minister Khaleel is on an official visit to India from January 2-4, 2025. It follows the recent state visit of Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu to India in October 2024 when he held bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Maldives a "Concrete Expression" of India's Neighborhood First Policy, says EAM Jaishankar
According to the MEA, during their bilateral discussions, EAM Jaishankar and FM Khaleel took stock of progress made on the understandings reached during talks between Prime Minister Modi and President Muizzu and followed-up on issues that need further focus from both sides.
Welcoming Foreign Minister Khaleel, EAM Jaishankar said, “I think we have some important developments to report, positive developments to report, and certainly there is much more that we need to do. I see that the framework to promote the use of local currencies for cross-border transactions has been signed.”
Reaffirming India's commitment to the Maldives, he described the country as a "concrete expression" of India's Neighborhood First policy.
"We have increased our engagements in various sectors. I do want to say that India has always stood by Maldives. For us, you are a very concrete expression of our neighbourhood's first policy," EAM Jaishankar pointed out. Highlighting the financial support provided by India, he referred to the resubscription of treasury bills and the currency swap of USD 400 million and INR 3,000 crore and described them as “very critical”.
"We have also facilitated the export of essential commodities to Maldives that has been very much a tradition in our relationship. So we certainly hope that our relationship has helped you to navigate through these difficult times,” EAM Jaishankar stated.
Foreign Minister Khaleel, on his part, appreciated the timely emergency financial assistance extended by India to Maldives in times of need, reflecting India's role as the "First Responder" of Maldives. According to the MEA, he reaffirmed President Muizzu and the Government of Maldives’ firm commitment to work closely with the Government of India in realizing the Joint Vision for India-Maldives Comprehensive Economic and Maritime Security Partnership.
“This visit is part of continued high-level engagements between the two sides and has provided an opportunity to further deepen the bilateral ties for the mutual benefit of two countries and the Indian Ocean Region,” the MEA said.
Forging a Comprehensive Economic and Maritime Security Partnership
In October 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Mohamed Muizzu held extensive bilateral talks in New Delhi, aiming to forge a comprehensive economic and maritime security partnership.
Prime Minister Modi pointed out that India is Maldives' closest neighbour and close friend while Maldives has an important place in both India’s"Neighbourhood First" policy and "SAGAR" Vision.
“India has always played the role of a first responder for Maldives. Whether it is fulfilling the need of essential commodities for the people of Maldives, making drinking water available during natural disasters, or providing vaccines during Covid-19, India has always fulfilled its responsibility as a neighbour,” Prime Minister Modi remarked.
Seeking to give a fresh impetus to the special relationship between the two nations, Prime Minister Modi and President Muizzu unveiled a Vision for Comprehensive Economic and Maritime Security Partnership.
A key outcome of the talks was the decision to advance maritime and security cooperation. As part of this, India will support the Maldives “provisioning of defence platforms and assets” to augment the capabilities of the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF). According to the joint vision statement, India will also support Maldives in enhancing surveillance and monitoring capability of MNDF with the provisioning of radar systems and other equipment.
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