Maldives President Muizzu to visit India next week

By Anadolu staff

Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu will embark on a 5-day official visit to India next week, said his office on Friday.

During his visit at the invitation of Indian President Droupadi Murmu, President Muizzu will hold meetings with his counterpart, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as well as other senior officials, the president's office said in a statement.

"Discussions will focus on strengthening bilateral cooperation and further enhancing the longstanding relationship between the two nations," it said.

President Muizzu met with Prime Minister Modi on the sidelines of the COP28 summit in Dubai in December 2023 and also attended the swearing-in ceremony of Modi in New Delhi on June 9, 2024.

This is his first state visit to India after New Delhi completely withdrew its soldiers deployed in Maldives in May this year.

The Indian troops began leaving Maldives in March under an agreement brought about by President Muizzu after he assumed the office last November.

Muizzu had rallied support on a pledge to withdraw all Indian troops from the island nation during his campaign last year.

*Writing by Islamuddin Sajid