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India Today
3 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
From 'India Out' to red carpet for Modi: How Delhi turned Maldives around
About two years ago, when Mohamed Muizzu defeated Ibrahim Mohamed Solih of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) to become the President of the Maldives, the prospect of diplomatic warmth between him and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, such as seen on Friday, seemed improbable. Muizzu's "India Out" campaign had strained ties with New Delhi. But in less than two years, the Maldivian President, in a rare break from protocol, made a grand gesture by personally receiving Prime Minister Modi upon his arrival in observers said the "hug" between the two leaders symbolised a reset in the strained ties. Some analysts also added that Muizzu may be "two-timing" by also leaning towards China. Still, the red carpet treatment and the 21-gun salute for PM Modi were no ordinary gestures, especially amid strained ties for about two development underscores India's understated diplomacy that constantly provided support to the Maldives despite its hostile approach towards India under DEMAND TO REMOVE INDIAN TROOPS FROM MALDIVES The issue dates back to 2023, when Muizzu demanded the withdrawal of approximately 90 Indian military personnel stationed in the Maldives for medical evacuations and maritime surveillance, framing their presence as an infringement on the Maldives' pivot towards China, including a state visit in January 2024 and the signing of 20 MoUs to deepen bilateral ties, raised concerns in New Delhi about a potential strategic shift in the Indian Ocean Maldives, under Muizzu, inked a pact with China for "non-lethal" weapons at no cost. Beijing also agreed to train Maldivian soldiers – another signal of the island nation distancing itself from India, which previously, along with the US, conducted such complied by withdrawing its military personnel, and did not sever ties with the Maldives. Instead, it continued, and even expanded, its development assistance and aid to the island fact, following the withdrawal, India replaced its personnel with civilian technical staff from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited to operate two helicopters and a Dornier aircraft gifted to the EXTENDED FINANCIAL AID TO MUIZZU GOVERNMENTOver the following months, this continued support bore fruit, contributing to what now appears to be a resetting of about a week after withdrawing the troops, in May 2024, India extended vital budgetary support by rolling over a $50 million Treasury Bill for an additional year through the State Bank of India in Male, helping the Maldives manage its fiscal Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer publicly thanked India for the gesture, emphasising the longstanding friendship between the two October 2024, India provided a $400 million emergency financial package and a Rs 3,000 crore (approximately $360 million) currency swap agreement to stabilise the Maldivian economy, which was under strain from a high debt-to-GDP ratio and maturing also agreed to explore debt relief measures for the Maldives' $400.9 million debt to India, as requested by support didn't end there. In 2025, India increased its aid to the Maldives by 28%, allocating Rs 600 crore to support economic stability and development projects, signalling a renewed commitment to bilateral SAW PROMOTION OF LAKSHADWEEP AS A THREATHowever, India's promotion of Lakshadweep as an alternative tourist destination, urging citizens to visit the western archipelago, was perceived in the Maldives, which has been a favourite destination for Indian celebrities, challenge its tourism Minister Modi in January last year posted a photo of himself from a Lakshadweep Indians might have cancelled their Maldives plan, but the island nation continued to feature in the social media posts of Indian FUNDING CRITICAL INFRA PROJECTS IN MALDIVESDespite the pushback on the tourism front, India continued funding critical infrastructure projects in the Maldives, including the Greater Male Connectivity Project, which aims to enhance economic mobility by connecting $500-million project, funded through a $100-million grant and a $400-million line of credit from India, is constructing a 6.74-km bridge and causeway network to connect the capital, Male, with three neighbouring islands – Villingili, Gulhifalhu, and Thilafushi – enhancing connectivity for nearly half of the Maldivian other investments in the Maldives include housing, sanitation, clean energy installations, and capacity-building the welcome extended to PM Modi in Male was not a sudden thaw. It was a result of India's quiet and consistent diplomacy which endured even as the Maldives tilted towards provocations and shifting allegiances, India chose engagement over escalation. Now, the geopolitical tides have again shifted in the strategic Indian Ocean Region.- EndsTune InMust Watch
NDTV
3 days ago
- Business
- NDTV
India, Maldives Hit Reset, A Year After Diplomatic Ties Hit All-Time Low
Male, Maldives: A year after India-Maldives relations hit a historic low, the two countries appear to have reset the trajectory of their bilateral ties. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit to the Maldives, his first in over a year, marks a course correction in a relationship that had come under severe strain following the election of President Mohamed Muizzu in November 2023. A Low Point In Relations In January last year, President Muizzu, newly elected on an 'India Out' platform, told New Delhi to withdraw all Indian military personnel from Maldivian soil by March 15. The statement was released shortly after Mr Muizzu's return from a high-profile visit to China. At the time, India maintained a contingent of 77 military personnel in the Maldives, along with 12 medical staff. The personnel were primarily tasked with operating two India-gifted helicopters and a Dornier aircraft used for search and rescue, medical evacuations, and surveillance. These deployments began under President Mohamed Nasheed in 2010. Yet Mr Muizzu argued that the presence of foreign troops undermined Maldivian sovereignty. From Distrust To Dialogue PM Modi's visit this week is the clearest signal yet of the normalisation of ties. Over two days in Male, he met with President Muizzu and key Maldivian leaders, including Vice President Uz Hussain Mohamed, People's Majlis Speaker Abdul Raheem Abdulla, and former President Nasheed. India announced a fresh line of credit worth Rs 4,850 crore aimed at financing infrastructure and development projects. Discussions were also held on climate change, renewable energy and trade. In a statement posted on social media, PM Modi said, "Our nations continue to work closely in sectors like infrastructure, technology, climate change, energy and more. This is greatly beneficial to our people. We look forward to deepening this partnership in the years to come." Public Opinion and Media Voices To gauge sentiment on the ground, NDTV spoke with prominent Maldivian journalists. Ahmed Aiyadh, a veteran journalist based in Male, acknowledged the tensions during the early phase of Mr Muizzu's presidency, but noted, I believe ties have been back on track for a while, especially since President Muizzu's trip to India. At the start of his administration, there was a fallout, as we all saw. However, I think it's positive that the government has realised the need to rely on India for progress. Prime Minister Modi's recent visit highlighted how much the Maldives depends on India for financial support and development." "Most of the 'India Out' campaign led by the current ruling party was based on lies," he added. Sharing similar thoughts, journalist Maryam Waheeda said, "There was friction initially, but that doesn't have to last forever. This government has worked hard to restore ties. People have always had a warm relationship with India."
Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Modi's Maldives visit is a reset button pressed with patience
Prime Minister (PM) Modi will be on a two-day visit to the Maldives from July 25 to 26. This will be his first State visit to the island nation in six years, and third once since he took office in 2014. This visit comes in the backdrop of President Mohamed Muizzu's active pursuance of the 'India Out' campaign, premised on getting the Indian military technical staff out from the island nation, who were stationed in Male to help them with operating the India-gifted helicopters and Dornier reconnaissance aircraft. After President Muizzu took office in November 2023. His initial statements and interviews, including a fiery interview to the Al-Jazeera, saying, 'We may be small but that doesn't give you their licence to bully us.' The veiled remark had quickly made headlines in the international media. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu before their meeting at the Hyderabad House in New Delhi on October 7. (RAJ K RAJ /HT Photo) From 'India Out' becoming the anthem of Muizzu's presidential campaign, a veiled remark on India as a bully after he entered office and distasteful remarks by the Maldivian legislators, the neighbourhood watchers in Delhi saw it as a major downturn. But during PM Modi's forthcoming State visit where he will also be the guest of honour at the celebrations of the independence of Maldives on July 26, both sides would be looking to restore ties, but more than anything, trust-building will be cardinal as also solidifying the Comprehensive Economc and Maritimne Security Partnership adopted during President Muizzu's India visit in October 2024. While the rise of ultra-nationalism in the Maldives, with an anti-India campaign at its core, has been a significant setback to the friendly relationship between the two countries, it is the the China factor that has been of immense worry to Delhi. Undoubtedly, the Maldives' location in the India Ocean presents Beijing with a greater and closer view of India—posing a threat to India's security and threatening the idea of a free and open Indo-Pacific. And it needs no guessing that China's active manoeuvrings in the Indian Ocean Region are of a dual purpose—one that seeks to secure supply chains and sea lanes of communication for its growing economic, industrial and energy needs, and another that strategically looks at the military presence as a key to dominance—and warrants a response from India which remains the key regional player. Against this backdrop, PM Modi's much-awaited visit to the Maldives is a clear marker of the ease of working in the relationship—something that seemed missing in the early quarters of President Muizzu's presidency and hopes for normalcy remained a looming challenge or to some, it was impossible. President Muizzu's early days in office saw his visits to Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and China, but India was a miss on the priority list. And for all good and bad, the foreign policy observers in Delhi were quick to suggest that visits by any newly elected heads of countries in the neighbourhood other than India be treated as a diplomatic loss for Delhi. And this pessimism made sense to the Indian media not just in the context of Maldives, but also on Nepal and Bangladesh, whose current leaders took up their first trips to China, and not to India. But one often discredits the role of geography, which by default puts India back as the closest neighbour—whether neighbours prefer or not. Secondly, India's role as the first responder during freshwater crisis in the Maldives in 2016, earthquake in Nepal in 2016, and 2022 economic crisis in Sri Lanka has proved its reliability. And not to forget, India's recent financial support to the Maldives has not gone unnoticed. Therefore, the Indian foreign policy establishment must be credited for its patient diplomacy, which has tactically limited itself from early reactions. But rapid responses in the media on political developments in the neighbourhood, especially in the case of the Maldives and Nepal, often miss taking the year 2008 into account. After their respective struggles against monarchy and autocracy, both became democracies, and the the rise of a new political opposition was instrumental in shaping multidirectional foreign policy of these countries. While the older guard chose to continue with a pro-India approach, the opposition had to re-invent itself, and China seemed the closest alternative that worked for their political requirements. Now with India attempting to reconfigure its neighbourhood first approach with patience to build natural synergies with the smaller neighbours and their new political setups, Delhi knows that China is a new strategic reality. As PM Modi touches down in Malé, Delhi should not see it as just a ceremonial reset, but an opportunity to reorient its approach with more strategic clarity. In doing so, India will have to de-hyphenate political affection from the strategic compulsion, and graduate from the temptation of favouring one party or a specific leader. India's engagement with President Muizzu must be pragmatic, institutional, and not performative or punitive. Secondly, India must counter Beijing's strategic buildup with strategic presence and not strategic anxiety. China is a hard reality and undoing it must not be a policy option, rather it should be countered through diplomatic posturing, investing in quiet and permanent developmental cooperation would yield results. Thirdly, India's smaller neighbours will continue to reinvent themselves through symbolic defiance using the cancel culture towards India-led projects and initiatives. But this must not be a major obstacle for Delhi as it will always be the case for local political parties and entities in shaping their nationalistic outlook. However, even those opposing India's goodwill initiatives in the Maldives cannot ignore India's cardinal role as a first responder. But this view only gets reflected when those opposing get elected to serve the government. Lastly, bilateral paternalism needs to be shifted to the multilateral leadership. India's regional security architecture in the Indian Ocean Region considers countries like Sri Lanka and the Maldives crucial and through initiatives like SAGAR—Security and Growth for All in the Region, which has been upgraded to MAHASAGAR—Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and growth for All in the Region, the multilateral approach gets reflected on several fronts, including security and growth involving maritime. Also, considering Maldives also faces the acute climatic challenge due to rising sea-levels—posing an existential threat to the Maldives—initiatives like SAGAR have evolved into MAHASAGAR reflecting upon the priorities and needs of the smaller maritime neighbors, including the safeguard against traditional threats like smuggling and terrorism through sea routes to building new age digital public infrastructure. The views expressed are personal. This article is authored by Rishi Gupta, assistant director, International Security, Asia Society Policy Institute, New Delhi.
Time of India
21-06-2025
- Health
- Time of India
IAF airlifts organs from Pune to Delhi, helps save three lives
Pune: A team of doctors from Army Hospital (Research and Referral) flew in on an Indian Air Force's Super Hercules aircraft on Friday night to collect and transport a liver and two kidneys from a 59-year-old brain-dead woman in Pune to New Delhi for transplantation, after her family generously consented to organ donation. The donor, mother of a serving soldier, was declared brain-dead at Command Hospital on on June 17. "The team retrieved a liver, two kidneys and two corneas in under four hours before taking off to Delhi, where the liver was transplanted into a civilian patient. The two kidneys were transplanted into two serving soldiers. The donor saved three lives," said a senior doctor from Command Hospital. A green air corridor was created for the aircraft to facilitate the airlift of live organs from Pune to Delhi. "Under the green air corridor protocol, the aircraft gets priority for take-off and landing. Besides, all ground clearances, including radars, get an alert in advance for the smooth flying of the aircraft," a senior IAF officer told TOI. "This humanitarian mission was enabled by seamless coordination between Armed Forces Medical Services and IAF, ensuring that the organs reached in time to save multiple lives. The noble act of the donor family stands as a testament to selfless sacrifice, even in the face of personal loss. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Over 40 and Struggling With Belly Fat? Try 1 Teaspoon Daily (See What Happens A Week Later) Health Benefits Undo Such missions highlight the Armed Forces' unwavering dedication not just to national security, but also to humanity," stated a statement issued by the Southern Command through Defence PRO, Pune. The Command Hospital has successfully conducted organ transplants in the last two years. "The perfect coordination with all the agencies, including police, was necessary to carry out the operation. Over the years, we have established a standard operating procedure," the officer said. IAF SAVES LIVES July 31, 2015: IAF transport a kidney and a liver from Pune to Delhi to save a 56-year-old ex-serviceman with liver cancer and a jawan suffering from kidney failure Feb 11, 2023: A 40-year-old brain-dead veteran's heart was airlifted from New Delhi to Pune in an IAF plane and transplanted into the 29-year-old wife of a serving soldier at the Army Institute of Cardio-Thoracic Sciences Feb 23, 2024: An IAF Dornier aircraft was used to airlift a team of doctors from the Army Research and Referral Hospital to retrieve a liver from Pune to Delhi to save the life of a veteran
India Gazette
16-06-2025
- Business
- India Gazette
DRDO to showcase cutting-edge defence tech at Paris Air show 2025, highlighting India's aerospace advancements
Paris [France], June 16 (ANI): The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is set to make a significant impact at the Paris Air Show 2025, highlighting India's growing capabilities in aerospace and defence innovation. In a post on X on Monday, DRDO announced its participation, showcasing a range of indigenous technologies featuring next-gen unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), advanced avionics, and indigenous defence systems. The organisation noted this shows India's 'self-reliance, collaboration, and strategic capability' on a global stage. 'At Paris Air Show 2025, DRDO showcases India's aerospace innovation--featuring next-gen UAVs, advanced avionics, and indigenous defence systems. A powerful display of self-reliance, collaboration, and strategic capability on the global stage,' the post. The post was accompanied with a video that provides glimpses into the array of equipment and systems that DRDO will exhibit at the show. In the video, DRDO showcased its Beyond-Visual-Range (BVR) class of Air-to-Air Missiles (AAM), 'Astra', designed to be mounted on fighter aircraft. As per DRCO, the missile is designed to engage and destroy highly manoeuvring supersonic aircraft with all-weather day and night capability. The missile is being developed in multiple variants to meet specific requirements. The ASTRA Mk-I Weapon System integrated with SU-30 Mk-I aircraft is also being inducted into the Indian Air Force (IAF). The video also mentioned the Light Combat Aircraft (LAC) Air Force Mark 2, popularly known as the Tejas Mk-2, an indigenous fighter jet manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). DRDO will also feature the Weapon Locating Radar (WLR), 'Swathi', primarily designed to locate hostile guns, mortars and rockets causing interference with military operations, developed along with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL). The Airborne Early Warning & Control System (AEW&C) will also be featured by DRDO which is a force multiplier system of systems for detecting and tracking enemy/hostile aircraft and UAVs. HELINA (Helicopter-based NAG), a third-generation fire-and-forget class anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) system mounted on the Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH), will also be exhibited by the DRDO at the show. The video also highlighted the upgrades to the Dornier aircraft called SHYEN (Payloads for Dornier Mid-Life Upgrade), improving the Dornier's operational effectiveness with advanced payloads. The event, scheduled from June 16 to 22 at Le Bourget, France, will serve as a global platform for DRDO to demonstrate its advancements and foster international collaboration. (ANI)
