Maldivian Foreign Minister Dr. Abdulla Khaleel, during his official visit to India from May 25 to 27, extended strong support to India in its ongoing fight against terrorism. Addressing the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, which killed 26 people and injured several others, Dr. Khaleel firmly condemned the incident and expressed solidarity with the people and government of India.
High-Level Talks and Vision Document Review
Dr. Khaleel led the Maldivian side at the second India-Maldives High Level Core Group (HLCG) meeting held on May 26. The meeting reviewed the progress of the India-Maldives Vision Document launched in October 2024 by the leaders of both nations. Discussions focused on strengthening cooperation across key areas such as politics, defence, security, economy, health, trade, development partnerships, and people-to-people ties.
Bilateral Meeting with S. Jaishankar
In a separate bilateral discussion, Dr. Khaleel met with Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar. Dr. Khaleel expressed appreciation for India’s emergency financial assistance, which he said had positively impacted daily life in the Maldives. Dr. Jaishankar acknowledged the Maldivian support and reiterated India’s commitment to the country’s progress and development.
Future Engagements and Strategic Importance
It was agreed that the third HLCG meeting will be hosted in Malé on dates to be decided. The visit reinforced the Comprehensive Economic and Maritime Security Partnership between the two countries. Maldives remains a key maritime neighbour and strategic partner under India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy and Vision MAHASAGAR, which stands for Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions.
