New Delhi: Maldives Foreign Minister Abdullah Shahid is scheduled to embark on a two-day official visit to India starting from July 11. During this visit, he will engage in discussions with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, addressing various bilateral, regional, and international matters of shared interest.

Both ministers will have the opportunity to witness the signing of project development agreements under Indian grant assistance.

According to a statement released by the Ministry of External Affairs, Minister Shahid will deliver the 43rd Sapru House Lecture at the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA) in New Delhi. The statement highlights that the Maldives holds a significant place in India's vision of 'SAGAR' (Security and Growth for All in the Region) and the 'Neighbourhood First Policy,' being a key maritime neighbor in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

The release further emphasizes that Minister Shahid's visit is part of a series of high-level exchanges between the two nations, aiming to reinforce the substantial bilateral cooperation between India and the Maldives. It is expected to enhance the momentum of their collaboration.

Expressing his thoughts on the visit, Abdullah Shahid tweeted that it aligns with the tradition of high-level exchanges between the Maldives and India. He stated, "Keeping with the tradition of high-level exchanges between #Maldives and #India, I am departing to New Delhi on an Official Visit at the invitation of EAM @DrSJaishankar. Look forward to continuing our discussions on enhancing the #MaldivesIndiaPartnership."

Last month, Union Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan and Abdulla Shahid participated in a ceremony in Male, marking the exchange of 10 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) between India and the Maldives. These MoUs are aimed at facilitating the implementation of development projects in various sectors such as arts, sports, education, and health under India's grant assistance.

In May, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visited the Maldives on a three-day official visit, accepting the invitation of his Maldivian counterpart, Mariya Ahmed Didi. The visit included bilateral delegation-level talks that further strengthened the defense and security partnership between the two nations. As a gesture of cooperation, India formally handed over a fast patrol vessel along with an assault landing craft to the Maldives National Defence Forces (MNDF) in a ceremony held on May 2, 2023.

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