President Mohamed Muizzu, accompanied by First Lady Sajidha Mohamed and a senior government delegation, initiated an official visit to China on January 7 at the invitation of President Xi Jinping. The visit, scheduled until January 12, includes a group of local journalists. This diplomatic move comes amid a diplomatic row with India, triggered by Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Lakshadweep.
Simultaneously, a tweet from Maldives Deputy Minister of Youth Empowerment Mariyam Shiuna, following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Lakshadweep visit, has sparked a social media backlash. Indian celebrities, including Akshay Kumar and Aakash Chopra, joined calls to boycott the Maldives, leading to a surge in the hashtag ‘BoycottMaldives’ on Indian social media.
Reports indicate a significant number of Indians canceling Maldives trips due to the alleged ‘Hinduphobic’ remarks by a Maldivian minister against Prime Minister Modi. India expressed concerns over the comments, with the Indian High Commissioner addressing the issue with the Maldivian government. This development coincides with the Maldives President’s government distancing itself from the minister’s remarks.
In December last year, the Maldivian government announced its intention to terminate a 2019 hydrography agreement with India, following a request for Indian troop withdrawal just a day after President Muizzu took office. Despite traditional cordial relations, some Maldivian politicians express discomfort with India’s presence, and the Maldives has a history of shifting alliances between India and China. Mint explores the dynamics shaping the current state of India-Maldives relations under President Muizzu’s government.