Maldives President Ibrahim Solih begins 4-day visit, meets S Jaishankar

NEW DELHI:Maldives President Ibrahim Solih on Monday began a four-day visit to India aimed at shoring up strategic and business relations between the two countries, which are close partners in the Indian Ocean region. The Maldives, a group of islands in the Indian Ocean with a population of about half a million, has been one of the biggest beneficiaries of India’s “Neighbourhood First” policy, with New Delhi developing projects worth some $2 billion in the archipelago, including ports, roads, bridges and socio-economic development schemes. Solih’s visit comes against the backdrop of differences with his ally, Speaker Mohamed Nasheed, ahead of parliamentary elections in 2023. The two leaders of the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party have been embroiled in a spat, with Nasheed recently accusing Solih’s administration of arresting his brother after “accusing him of homosexuality”. The Maldives has also witnessed an anti-India campaign, thought to be spearheaded by the opposition party of former president Abdulla Yameen. A mob disrupted the international yoga day celebration in the Maldivian capital of Male in June while the event was being attended by the Indian envoy and foreign diplomats. The Maldivian President’s only official engagement on Monday was a meeting with external affairs minister S Jaishanakr, who tweeted after their talks: “Our Neighbourhood First and Maldives’ India First policies are complementary. They take our special partnership forward.” Solih will be the first foreign leader to meet his new Indian counterpart, Droupadi Murmu, on Tuesday. He will also hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and meet an Indian business delegation in New Delhi. Solih will also visit Mumbai, Maharashtra, and participate in several business events.

NEW DELHI:Maldives President Ibrahim Solih on Monday began a four-day visit to India aimed at shoring up strategic and business relations between the two countries, which are close partners in the Indian Ocean region. The Maldives, a group of islands in the Indian Ocean with a population of about half a million, has been one of the biggest beneficiaries of India’s “Neighbourhood First” policy, with New Delhi developing projects worth some $2 billion in the archipelago, including ports, roads, bridges and socio-economic development schemes. Solih’s visit comes against the backdrop of differences with his ally, Speaker Mohamed Nasheed, ahead of parliamentary elections in 2023. The two leaders of the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party have been embroiled in a spat, with Nasheed recently accusing Solih’s administration of arresting his brother after “accusing him of homosexuality”. The Maldives has also witnessed an anti-India campaign, thought to be spearheaded by the opposition party of former president Abdulla Yameen. A mob disrupted the international yoga day celebration in the Maldivian capital of Male in June while the event was being attended by the Indian envoy and foreign diplomats. The Maldivian President’s only official engagement on Monday was a meeting with external affairs minister S Jaishanakr, who tweeted after their talks: “Our Neighbourhood First and Maldives’ India First policies are complementary. They take our special partnership forward.” Solih will be the first foreign leader to meet his new Indian counterpart, Droupadi Murmu, on Tuesday. He will also hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and meet an Indian business delegation in New Delhi. Solih will also visit Mumbai, Maharashtra, and participate in several business events.NEW DELHI:Maldives President Ibrahim Solih on Monday began a four-day visit to India aimed at shoring up strategic and business relations between the two countries, which are close partners in the Indian Ocean region. The Maldives, a group of islands in the Indian Ocean with a population of about half a million, has been one of the biggest beneficiaries of India’s “Neighbourhood First” policy, with New Delhi developing projects worth some $2 billion in the archipelago, including ports, roads, bridges and socio-economic development schemes. Solih’s visit comes against the backdrop of differences with his ally, Speaker Mohamed Nasheed, ahead of parliamentary elections in 2023. The two leaders of the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party have been embroiled in a spat, with Nasheed recently accusing Solih’s administration of arresting his brother after “accusing him of homosexuality”. The Maldives has also witnessed an anti-India campaign, thought to be spearheaded by the opposition party of former president Abdulla Yameen. A mob disrupted the international yoga day celebration in the Maldivian capital of Male in June while the event was being attended by the Indian envoy and foreign diplomats. The Maldivian President’s only official engagement on Monday was a meeting with external affairs minister S Jaishanakr, who tweeted after their talks: “Our Neighbourhood First and Maldives’ India First policies are complementary. They take our special partnership forward.” Solih will be the first foreign leader to meet his new Indian counterpart, Droupadi Murmu, on Tuesday. He will also hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and meet an Indian business delegation in New Delhi. Solih will also visit Mumbai, Maharashtra, and participate in several business events.NEW DELHI:Maldives President Ibrahim Solih on Monday began a four-day visit to India aimed at shoring up strategic and business relations between the two countries, which are close partners in the Indian Ocean region. The Maldives, a group of islands in the Indian Ocean with a population of about half a million, has been one of the biggest beneficiaries of India’s “Neighbourhood First” policy, with New Delhi developing projects worth some $2 billion in the archipelago, including ports, roads, bridges and socio-economic development schemes. Solih’s visit comes against the backdrop of differences with his ally, Speaker Mohamed Nasheed, ahead of parliamentary elections in 2023. The two leaders of the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party have been embroiled in a spat, with Nasheed recently accusing Solih’s administration of arresting his brother after “accusing him of homosexuality”. The Maldives has also witnessed an anti-India campaign, thought to be spearheaded by the opposition party of former president Abdulla Yameen. A mob disrupted the international yoga day celebration in the Maldivian capital of Male in June while the event was being attended by the Indian envoy and foreign diplomats. The Maldivian President’s only official engagement on Monday was a meeting with external affairs minister S Jaishanakr, who tweeted after their talks: “Our Neighbourhood First and Maldives’ India First policies are complementary. They take our special partnership forward.” Solih will be the first foreign leader to meet his new Indian counterpart, Droupadi Murmu, on Tuesday. He will also hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and meet an Indian business delegation in New Delhi. Solih will also visit Mumbai, Maharashtra, and participate in several business events.NEW DELHI:Maldives President Ibrahim Solih on Monday began a four-day visit to India aimed at shoring up strategic and business relations between the two countries, which are close partners in the Indian Ocean region. The Maldives, a group of islands in the Indian Ocean with a population of about half a million, has been one of the biggest beneficiaries of India’s “Neighbourhood First” policy, with New Delhi developing projects worth some $2 billion in the archipelago, including ports, roads, bridges and socio-economic development schemes. Solih’s visit comes against the backdrop of differences with his ally, Speaker Mohamed Nasheed, ahead of parliamentary elections in 2023. The two leaders of the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party have been embroiled in a spat, with Nasheed recently accusing Solih’s administration of arresting his brother after “accusing him of homosexuality”. The Maldives has also witnessed an anti-India campaign, thought to be spearheaded by the opposition party of former president Abdulla Yameen. A mob disrupted the international yoga day celebration in the Maldivian capital of Male in June while the event was being attended by the Indian envoy and foreign diplomats. The Maldivian President’s only official engagement on Monday was a meeting with external affairs minister S Jaishanakr, who tweeted after their talks: “Our Neighbourhood First and Maldives’ India First policies are complementary. They take our special partnership forward.” Solih will be the first foreign leader to meet his new Indian counterpart, Droupadi Murmu, on Tuesday. He will also hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and meet an Indian business delegation in New Delhi. Solih will also visit Mumbai, Maharashtra, and participate in several business events.NEW DELHI:Maldives President Ibrahim Solih on Monday began a four-day visit to India aimed at shoring up strategic and business relations between the two countries, which are close partners in the Indian Ocean region. The Maldives, a group of islands in the Indian Ocean with a population of about half a million, has been one of the biggest beneficiaries of India’s “Neighbourhood First” policy, with New Delhi developing projects worth some $2 billion in the archipelago, including ports, roads, bridges and socio-economic development schemes. Solih’s visit comes against the backdrop of differences with his ally, Speaker Mohamed Nasheed, ahead of parliamentary elections in 2023. The two leaders of the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party have been embroiled in a spat, with Nasheed recently accusing Solih’s administration of arresting his brother after “accusing him of homosexuality”. The Maldives has also witnessed an anti-India campaign, thought to be spearheaded by the opposition party of former president Abdulla Yameen. A mob disrupted the international yoga day celebration in the Maldivian capital of Male in June while the event was being attended by the Indian envoy and foreign diplomats. The Maldivian President’s only official engagement on Monday was a meeting with external affairs minister S Jaishanakr, who tweeted after their talks: “Our Neighbourhood First and Maldives’ India First policies are complementary. They take our special partnership forward.” Solih will be the first foreign leader to meet his new Indian counterpart, Droupadi Murmu, on Tuesday. He will also hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and meet an Indian business delegation in New Delhi. Solih will also visit Mumbai, Maharashtra, and participate in several business events.NEW DELHI:Maldives President Ibrahim Solih on Monday began a four-day visit to India aimed at shoring up strategic and business relations between the two countries, which are close partners in the Indian Ocean region. The Maldives, a group of islands in the Indian Ocean with a population of about half a million, has been one of the biggest beneficiaries of India’s “Neighbourhood First” policy, with New Delhi developing projects worth some $2 billion in the archipelago, including ports, roads, bridges and socio-economic development schemes. Solih’s visit comes against the backdrop of differences with his ally, Speaker Mohamed Nasheed, ahead of parliamentary elections in 2023. The two leaders of the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party have been embroiled in a spat, with Nasheed recently accusing Solih’s administration of arresting his brother after “accusing him of homosexuality”. The Maldives has also witnessed an anti-India campaign