Maldives Opposition Leader Urges President Muizzu to Apologize to PM Modi Amid Diplomatic Tensions last 1 month
Date: [31/01/2024]
Maldives President Muizzu to Apologize to PM Modi
In the midst of an escalating diplomatic dispute between Maldives and India, Jumhooree Party Leader Qasim Ibrahim has called on Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu to extend a formal apology to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The suggestion follows President Muizzu’s remarks made after a recent trip to China, which stirred tensions and raised concerns about the relationship between the two neighboring nations.
Ibrahim, as reported by Maldivian radio station Voice of Maldives, emphasized the need for responsible communication, especially with neighboring countries, to safeguard diplomatic relations. “Regarding any country, especially a neighboring one, we shouldn’t speak in a way that affects the relationship. We have an obligation to our state that must be considered,” he stated. Ibrahim highlighted that President Solih had recognized this obligation, issuing a Presidential Decree last year to ban the “India Out” campaign, which was spearheaded by former president Abdulla Yameen.
The former Maldivian president Yameen had led the ‘India Out’ campaign, alleging that the presence of Indian military officers in the Maldives violated the country’s sovereignty. President Solih’s decree, signed last year, deemed the campaign a “threat to national security,” allowing security agencies to dismantle campaign banners and take action against opposition parties.
In the current context, Ibrahim warned against nullifying the Presidential Decree, emphasizing that it would only lead to a loss for the nation. He further called on President Muizzu to formally apologize to the Indian government and Prime Minister Modi for his post-China trip remarks.
The diplomatic tensions between India and the Maldives have been brewing for some time. The dispute began when President Muizzu, after his swearing-in, demanded the withdrawal of Indian troops from the island nation within 24 hours. His subsequent decision to visit Turkey instead of making New Delhi his first international destination, breaking with tradition, raised eyebrows and heightened concerns about India’s influence in the Maldives.
The situation further escalated with unruly comments by three Maldivian ministers on social media directed at Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Additionally, the Maldives recently permitted a Chinese research vessel to dock at Male port, despite India expressing apprehensions about the increasing activities of the Chinese navy in the Indian Ocean.
The geographical proximity of the Maldives to India, coupled with its strategic location at the crossroads of commercial sea lanes in the Indian Ocean Region, underscores the significance of the ongoing diplomatic tensions between the two nations. The call for an apology adds a new dimension to the complex relationship, with potential implications for the geopolitical landscape in the region.