Rajnath Singh reaffirms India’s commitment to deepen ties with Maldives
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh reiterated India’s commitment to strengthening its relationship with the Maldives at a delegation-level meeting with his Maldivian counterpart.
Singh said, “I remember our brief meeting with you during the state visit of President Mohamed Muizzu to India in October 2024,” in reference to the recent visit of the president to India. The Joint Vision Document that was published during the visit serves as a compass for our two nations, and the President of the Maldives’ visit has given our bilateral relationship a new direction.”
He highlighted the countries’ long-standing spiritual, historical, linguistic, and ethnic links, characterizing them as “close, cordial, and multidimensional.”
According to Singh, India’s Neighbourhood First Policy, a strategic framework designed to promote security and development in the area, gives the Maldives a unique position. He said, “Maldives occupied a special place under Neighbourhood’s First Policy of India, which aimed to bring stability and prosperity in the Indian Ocean region.”
“Both nations are key players in maintaining the safety and security of the Indian Ocean region, thus contributing to ‘Security And Growth For All’ (SAGAR) in the region,” Singh said, emphasizing the two countries’ joint responsibility in preserving security in the Indian Ocean.
The discussions also focused on India and the Maldives’ strong defense cooperation. Singh outlined India’s capacity-building opportunities, which include workshops, joint exercises, training programs, and the provision of defense equipment.
“India will continue to support the Maldives and the Maldives National Defence Force in their capacity-building efforts through projects, equipment, and training,” he said, highlighting the need of keeping up this pace. As a close friend and valued partner, I can guarantee you that India will keep helping the Maldives with its development requirements and people’s welfare.”
India was one of the first countries to recognize the Maldives upon its independence in 1965, and the two countries’ relationship is based on long-standing cultural, religious, and economic connections. The Maldives’ strategic significance is further highlighted by its geographic closeness to India’s west coast and its position along important maritime trade routes.
The Maldives’ economy still depends heavily on tourism, which directly contributes over 25% of its GDP and creates a significant portion of job possibilities. The tourist industry plays a crucial part in the Maldivian economy, supporting about 70% of all jobs in the country when indirect contributions are taken into account.
These economic and geopolitical links are intended to be further strengthened by the strong bilateral collaboration between India and the Maldives.
