MALDIVES SAYS INDIA A SPECIAL FRIEND AMID WARMING TIES

The Maldives perceives India as a “special friend” and will be sensitive to the country’s security and strategic concerns, the country’s foreign minister Abdulla Shahid said on Monday, reflecting Male’s efforts to rebalance ties with New Delhi and Beijing.

Shahid, in New Delhi for discussions with his Indian counterpart Sushma Swaraj ahead of Maldives Prime Minister Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s first visit to the country and to explore ways to deal with the financial crisis in Maldives, said India will “always be a special friend”. “India is the largest contributor of our development for decades. China contributes the largest tourist arrivals and has been generous in assistance. We will not compare friends but we have friends and special friends,” he told ANI.

Solih’s surprise victory in the September general election provided an opportunity for India to improve relations with the Indian Ocean archipelago, which dipped to an all-time low under former president Abdulla Yameen.

Following a crackdown on the Opposition, Yameen turned to China for support and backing for massive infrastructure projects.

Shahid accused Yameen of trying to play “India against China” and said: “The previous government… increased anti-India sentiments for their own purposes. We will change it… Our government will make sure the Maldives-India relationship is on a better footing,” he said.

Beijing poured billions of dollars into infrastructure projects and Solih’s aides have said the Chinese debt could be more than $1.5 billion.