Context

Prime Minister of India and President of Maldives held one on one delegation level talks in New Delhi.

Background

• India and Maldives share ethnic, linguistic, cultural, religious and commercial links.
• India was among the first to recognize the Maldives after its independence in 1965 and later established its mission at Male in 1972.
• Maldives’ proximity to the west coast of India and its situation at the hub of commercial sea-lanes running through the Indian Ocean, and its potential to allow a third nation’s naval presence in the area imbues it with significant strategic importance to India.
• India has a pre-eminent position in the Maldives, with relations extending to virtually most areas.
• India’s policy of ‘Neighbourhood First’ and Maldives’ policy of ‘India First’ seem to be in absolute sync with each other.

Key Highlights of the meeting:

• Both sides reviewed bilateral ties and discussed ways to strengthen linkages in areas of development partnership, trade, and connectivity and P2P ties, among others.
• Reviewed projects for the construction of 4,000 social housing units in Greater Male.
• Six agreements were exchanged following the delegation level talks in areas including cyber security, disaster management, and infrastructure.
• The India Maldives development cooperation including Addu roads and reclamation, water and sanitation in 34 islands and Friday Mosque restoration projects was reviewed.