Kampala:

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday met his Maldivian counterpart Moosa Zameer right here and the 2 leaders had a “frank conversation” on ties between the 2 nations.

The assembly between S Jaishankar and Mossa Zameer within the Ugandan capital metropolis of Kampala got here amid an unease within the Maldives’ bilateral ties with India.

Mr Jaishankar is in Kampala to characterize India on the two-day summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) starting Friday.

“Met Maldives FM @MoosaZameer today in Kampala. A frank conversation on India-Maldives ties. Also discussed NAM related issues,” Jaishankar posted on X, sharing {a photograph} of the assembly.

Met Maldives FM @MoosaZameer immediately in Kampala.

A frank dialog on 🇮🇳-🇲🇻 ties. Also mentioned NAM associated points. pic.twitter.com/P7ResFlCaK

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) January 18, 2024

In a put up on X, Mr Zameer stated it was a pleasure to fulfill Jaishankar within the margins of the NAM Summit.

“We exchanged views on the ongoing high-level discussions on the withdrawal of Indian military personnel, as well as expediting the completion of ongoing development projects in the Maldives, and cooperation within SAARC and NAM,” he wrote.

“We are committed to further strengthening and expanding our cooperation,” the Maldivian minister wrote. He additionally posted {a photograph} of the assembly.

The India-Maldives ties got here below some stress as Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu, extensively seen as a pro-China chief, maintained after assuming cost because the president in November that he’ll hold his election promise of evicting Indian navy personnel from his nation.

A row erupted on social media earlier this month when a minister and another leaders within the Maldives used derogatory remarks towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi after he posted a video of him on a pristine seaside in Lakshadweep.

Mr Muizzu suspended the three ministers after their social media postings, which stirred concern in India and requires a boycott by Indian vacationers who ranked highest in numbers adopted by Russia. Chinese vacationers figured third.

The Maldives is one among India’s key maritime neighbours within the Indian Ocean Region and the general bilateral ties together with in areas of defence and safety witnessed an upward trajectory below the earlier authorities in Male.

In May final yr, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visited the Maldives throughout which he handed over a quick patrol vessel and a touchdown craft to the island nation.

In August, Prime Minister Modi after which Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih kick-started the India-funded Greater Male connectivity venture, billed as the most important infrastructure initiative within the island nation.

Under the Greater Male Connectivity Project (GMCP), a 6.74-km-long bridge and causeway hyperlink can be constructed to attach the capital metropolis Male with adjoining islands of Villingli, Gulhifalhu and Thilafushi.

The Maldives can also be one of many largest beneficiaries of India’s Neighbourhood First coverage.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is revealed from a syndicated feed.)