Muizzu meets Jaishankar, says India a key ally

Amid signs of a thaw in India-Maldives ties for past few months, President Mohamed Muizzu met visiting Indian foreign minister S Jaishankar and, as they presided over ceremony for inauguration of water and sanitation projects spread over 28 islands, called India one of Maldives’ closest allies and invaluable partners.
Jaishankar said India-Maldives development cooperation embodies “the motto of our partnership – Imagined by Maldives, Delivered by India”. “It will be our endeavour to harness this defining feature of our relationship and scale greater heights. I hope Excellency President with your guidance and encouragement, our joint efforts, our joint activities and our shared vision will form an important milestone in the journey of our two nations together,” the EAM further said.
During the event, President Muizzu reaffirmed his administration’s full commitment to strengthening the historic and close connections between the Maldives and India, a press release issued by his office said. “India has always been one of the closest allies and invaluable partners, facilitating and providing aid whenever Maldives has needed it,” he said.
Muizzu extended deep gratitude to PM Narendra Modi, Indian govt, and the “friendly people” of India for their “generous and continued assistance” to the Maldives. He also recalled his recent visit to India, to attend the swearing-in ceremony of PM Modi and expressed appreciation for the invitation and the opportunity to meet him as well as President Droupadi Murmu.