Skip to content

A digest of news and opinion from the Maldives.

Diplomacy

Students from Maldives visit Kerala as part of exchange programme

Students from Maldives visit Kerala as part of exchange programme

1 min read

A group of NCC students and an army officer from the Maldives reached Thiruvananthapuram on a 7-day visit to Kerala. The Kerala tourism minister K Surendran welcomed the group on behalf of the state. The students along with the army officer are on a seven-day visit to the state as part of the student exchange […]

President Yameen

Maldives Pres. shoots down possibility of talks, says they are a waste of time

2 min read

President Abdullah Yameen has stated that discussions on issues pertinent to citizens, was a waste of time and that he would not do that. Speaking from Eydhafushi island Baa atoll, President Yameen said the opposition had always accused him of heavy-handedness in his way of conducting affairs of the state. However, he said that he […]

Why the Maldives matters to India: 5 reasons

Why the Maldives matters to India: 5 reasons

2 min read

1) Location, location location. The Maldives’s location on the Indian Ocean makes it a nation of concern to India especially as regional rival China is trying to expand its sphere of influence in the area. The Maldives is located near important sea routes in the Indian Ocean and close to the Gulf of Aden and […]

Maldives, India to hold sit-down to soothe tensions

Maldives, India to hold sit-down to soothe tensions

2 min read

President Abdulla Yameen (L) meets Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during an official visit to India. PHOTO/MIHAARU The Maldives is discussing a high-level bilateral visit from India to overcome the strained relations between the two nations, Indian media has revealed. According to The Times of India, a top delegation from India is expected to arrive […]

Maldives President Calls India ‘Closest Friend and Ally’, But Defends Restrictions on Diplomats

Maldives President Calls India ‘Closest Friend and Ally’, But Defends Restrictions on Diplomats

4 min read

President Abdulla Yameen’s pro-India statements came after reports that there were doubts in New Delhi on Maldives’ decision to sign an FTA with China.   New Delhi: While Maldives President Abdulla Yameen described India as the island country’s “closest friend and ally” and asked the media to refrain from criticising the South Asian giant, he also […]

Maldives wriggles out of a sticky diplomatic situation vis-à-vis India

Maldives wriggles out of a sticky diplomatic situation vis-à-vis India

7 min read

The Maldives manages to wriggle out of a sticky diplomatic situation involving regional power India Indo-Maldivian relations have been under strain… Maldives risks losing the look of a unitary state as stipulated in the Constitution The ball was in the Maldivian government’s court and President Yameen himself came out with a conciliatory statement on Sunday… […]

Maldives president weighs in on diplo drama

Maldives president weighs in on diplo drama

2 min read

President Abdulla Yameen has criticized diplomats for speaking about foreign policy issues in the islands, after authorities banned councils from meeting envoys without prior written permission. He said foreign policy should be discussed with the government but denied accusations his administration did not not respect diplomats, saying there were rules they needed to adhere to. […]

MEA consultative committee meeting

Parliament panel questions Centre on ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy

2 min read

All grilled: Sushma Swaraj, M.J. Akbar and S. Jaishankar attended the meeting on December 21. NEW DELHI: Despite the recent Maldives-China Free Trade Agreement and moves by the Yameen government favouring Chinese investment, the Modi government says it remains firmly committed to its “Neighbours First” policy and has bolstered defence cooperation with Male in the […]

president yameen

Maldives pres warns media against insulting India

2 min read

President Abdulla Yameen greets the residents of N. Velidhoo during his visit to inaugurate the island’s harbour. PHOTO/HOUSING MINISTRY President Abdulla Yameen has cautioned the local media to refrain from insulting the government of neighbouring India. He made the remark Sunday during the inauguration of Noonu atoll Velidhoo island’s new harbour. Yameen’s rebuke comes in […]