Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu has struck a reconciliatory tone after his anti-India rhetoric, saying India will continue to remain his country’s “closest ally” as he sought a debt relief from New Delhi. The Maldives owed approximately $400.9 million to India at the end of last year.Ever since taking oath as the President in November last year, the pro-China Maldivian leader has pursued a hardline stand towards India and within hours demanded that Indian military personnel operating three aviation platforms be repatriated from his country by May 10.
in his first interview with the local media since assuming office, President Muizzu said India was instrumental in providing aid to the Maldives and implemented the “greatest number” of projects.
India will continue to remain the Maldives’ closest ally, he said and emphasised that there was no question about it, Maldives news portal Edition.mv said in a report with excerpts of the President’s interview to its Dhivehi language sister-publication ‘Mihaaru.’
The comments praising India came after the first batch of Indian military personnel left the island nation this month as planned.