Maldives MP Meekail Nasym Hopes for Stronger Ties with India
New Delhi [India], July 30: Meekail Nasym, a Member of Parliament from the South Galolhu constituency in the Maldives, has expressed hope that President Mohamed Muizzu will recognize the importance of maintaining a strong relationship between the Maldives and India. Nasym believes that Muizzu’s foreign policy has not been effective, as he failed to secure aid from China and the Middle East, and did not deliver the budget support promised to the Maldivian people.
Nasym’s comments follow President Muizzu’s gratitude towards India for helping ease the Maldives’ debt repayment and his hope for stronger ties, including a potential Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with India. Nasym stated, “I think it will take time for our ties to reach normalcy. But it’s good that the president has realized his foreign policy wasn’t working. He tried to source aid from the Middle East and China but failed to get the budget support he promised.”
Nasym also highlighted the irony in Muizzu’s recent statements, given that some parliament members had previously accused India of compromising Maldivian sovereignty. He hopes Muizzu will acknowledge the geographical significance of the relationship between India and the Maldives and work to maintain it.
Nasym emphasized the necessity of an FTA with India for the Maldivian economy, especially given the volatile exchange rate fluctuations. He stressed the importance of reducing local expenditure when seeking international assistance. “We need to show sincerity by cutting down on local expenditure, but sadly, we see the opposite with the current government hiring many political appointees,” he added.
During the Maldives’ Independence Day function, President Muizzu praised the administration’s foreign policy and thanked India and China for their support in easing debt repayment. He announced ongoing negotiations for currency swap agreements with New Delhi and Beijing and expressed hope for an FTA with the United Kingdom and India.
Muizzu’s government has taken steps to restore relations with India after tensions arose earlier this year. This includes high-level visits and efforts to address diplomatic issues, such as the suspension of three deputy ministers who made derogatory comments about Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Muizzu has emphasized that India remains the Maldives’ closest ally, with the country owing 6.2 billion Maldivian Rufiyaa to India by the end of last year.
Doubts Revealed
Maldives -: The Maldives is a small island country in the Indian Ocean, known for its beautiful beaches and clear blue waters.
MP -: MP stands for Member of Parliament. It is a person who has been elected to represent the people in the government.
Meekail Nasym -: Meekail Nasym is a politician in the Maldives who is a Member of Parliament.
President Mohamed Muizzu -: President Mohamed Muizzu is the current leader of the Maldives.
foreign policy -: Foreign policy is how a country interacts with other countries. It includes decisions about trade, aid, and international relations.
aid -: Aid is help given by one country to another, often in the form of money, food, or other resources.
China -: China is a large country in East Asia, known for its rich history and as a major global power.
Middle East -: The Middle East is a region that includes countries like Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Iran. It is known for its deserts and oil resources.
Free Trade Agreement (FTA) -: A Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is a deal between countries to trade goods and services without many taxes or restrictions.
economy -: The economy is how a country makes and uses money, goods, and services.
debt repayment -: Debt repayment is when a country pays back money it has borrowed from other countries or organizations.
currency swap agreements -: Currency swap agreements are deals between countries to exchange money in their own currencies to help trade and financial stability.
UK -: The UK, or United Kingdom, is a country in Europe that includes England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
