New Delhi. Maldives President Mohammed Muizzu has arrived on a five-day visit to India. First Lady of Maldives Sajida Mohammed is also with him. Mohammad Moizzu arrived in New Delhi on Sunday for his first bilateral visit to India. During his visit, Muizzu will meet President Draupadi Murmu. He will hold a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. On Muizzu’s arrival in India, Union Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh welcomed him. Muizzu is on a visit to India from October 6 to 10 on the official invitation of President Draupadi Murmu. He will also visit Mumbai and Bengaluru.
Earlier in June this year, Muizzu had come to India to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. But on October 6, he has come for his first bilateral visit. It is noteworthy that as per the earlier tradition, almost every President of Maldives used to make his first foreign trip to India, but after assuming office, Muizzu changed this trend by visiting Turkey and then China.
He is considered anti-India and pro-China. He took several steps that changed the traditional relations between India and Maldives. During the election, he ran his entire presidential campaign on the appeal of excluding India. Removal of Indian troops from the country was the main election campaign of Muizzu’s party. However, after the recent sourness in relations with India, Muizzu has adopted a conciliatory stance. He thanked India for financial assistance and described New Delhi as Mali’s closest ally. Also giving clarification, he also said that he never launched a campaign to oust India.