The Maldives' Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer was expected in New Delhi on Wednesday for his maiden visit to India amid simmering diplomatic tensions over his country's moves to deepen ties with China.
Mr Zameer’s visit comes days after Indian military personnel left the Maldives at the government in Male's request.
India’s External Affairs Ministry said Mr Zameer would meet Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on Thursday to discuss bilateral and regional issues of mutual interest.
New Delhi expects the visit will give “momentum to the bilateral co-operation between the two countries”, it said.
India has for decades considered Maldives, a chain of islands in the Indian Ocean known for azure waters, white sand beaches and luxury resorts, a strategic neighbour. But relations have been strained since President Mohamed Muizzu, a pro-China politician, was elected in November after a campaign marked by anti-India rhetoric.
Male has deepened ties with Beijing in recent years as China and India vie for influence in the region, particularly in the Indian Ocean, a key maritime route.
China is the Maldives' largest external creditor, accounting for about 20 per cent of its total public debt. The country owes China about $1.3 billion, according to the latest International Monetary Fund data.
Mr Muizzu chose China for his first foreign visit in January, breaking a tradition of Maldivian presidents making New Delhi their first port of call.
He met Chinese President Xi Jinping and signed 20 agreements, including on military equipment and training.
A spokeswoman for Mr Muizzu told reporters in Male that 51 Indian military personnel had left by Monday, days before the President's May 10 deadline for New Delhi to withdraw all of its troops. He had promised to remove “foreign military boots” from Maldivian soil if he came to power.
About 75 Indian troops were posted to the Maldives in 2020 to patrol maritime boundaries and run an emergency air evacuation service for its people.
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
Company%C2%A0profile
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Villains
Queens of the Stone Age
Matador
Grand Slam Los Angeles results
Men:
56kg – Jorge Nakamura
62kg – Joao Gabriel de Sousa
69kg – Gianni Grippo
77kg – Caio Soares
85kg – Manuel Ribamar
94kg – Gustavo Batista
110kg – Erberth Santos
Women:
49kg – Mayssa Bastos
55kg – Nathalie Ribeiro
62kg – Gabrielle McComb
70kg – Thamara Silva
90kg – Gabrieli Pessanha
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The biog
Name: James Mullan
Nationality: Irish
Family: Wife, Pom; and daughters Kate, 18, and Ciara, 13, who attend Jumeirah English Speaking School (JESS)
Favourite book or author: “That’s a really difficult question. I’m a big fan of Donna Tartt, The Secret History. I’d recommend that, go and have a read of that.”
Dream: “It would be to continue to have fun and to work with really interesting people, which I have been very fortunate to do for a lot of my life. I just enjoy working with very smart, fun people.”
SPEC%20SHEET
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