Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday dialed Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohammed Solih and “took stock” of bilateral relations, including Covid assistance. Significantly, the call came amid the growing rift in the Maldives’ ruling party, the MDP. 

In the call, Modi called the Maldives “a central pillar in India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy and its maritime vision of Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR)”. Modi also extended his congratulations to Solih for the election of the Maldives Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid as the President of the UN General Assembly.

“Both leaders reviewed the progress of the India-supported development projects in the Maldives and expressed satisfaction at the rapid pace of implementation despite the constraints of the Covid pandemic,” India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement. 

Modi also assured Solih of India’s continued assistance to the Maldives in managing the Covid crisis there.  

“The President (Solih) thanked India for its decision to renew the quota for the import of essential commodities for a period of three years,” read a statement released by the Maldives president’s office. 

Importantly, the call came days after the trouble in the Maldives ruling party--considered friendly to India--has come out in the public. Solih and speaker Nasheed, the two seniormost leaders of the party, are at loggerheads for a few weeks now. 

The difference between the two Maldivian leaders has grown to the extent that Nasheed had reportedly said a few days back that he could no longer politically align himself with Solih anymore. He termed the difference ‘ideological’. The rift between the top leaders might also threaten the stability of the government there. 

(SAM)