Despite recent diplomatic ties touching low points, Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu on Wednesday greeted Indian PM Narendra Modi and said he is looking forward to working with the BJP leader to advance and ensure stability between the two countries.
“Congratulations to Prime Minister @narendramodi, and the BJP and BJP-led NDA, on the success in the 2024 Indian General Election, for the third consecutive term,” the President posted on X wishing the PM.
“I look forward to working together to advance our shared interests in pursuit of shared prosperity and stability for our two countries,” he said.
Narendra Modi is set to return for the record third term after his Bharatiya Janata Party-led alliance partnership named National Democratic Alliance (NDA) clinched the Indian general polls despite a strong fight by the opposition parties.
Diplomatic trouble
Diplomatic tensions reached a flashpoint in recent times between the two countries over remarks made by some Maldives ministers against Indian PM Narendra Modi’s visit to Lakshadweep, to promote the Indian Union Territory having the potential to compete with tourism major Maldives.
Last month, pro-China Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu’s People’s National Congress (PNC) took control of the Parliament by winning the election clinching over 60 of the total 93 seats, highlighting the Island Nation’s further tilt towards India’s hostile rival China.
The Maldives, which comprises some 1,192 tiny coral islands scattered across 800 kilometres (500 miles) on the equator, is considered as one of the top beach destinations in the world.
Apart from its scenic beauty, the country is known for its luxury hotels and water villas.
The pro-China Maldivian President faced massive domestic criticism for his anti-India stance as the main opposition parties of the country, the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and the Democrats, slammed Muizzu for distancing from India, the island nation’s “most long-standing ally ” and source of tourists.