Ambassador of Maldives to India, Ahmed Mohamed has proclaimed that Maldives will participate in any international initiative if there is economic merit for the country. In an interview to National Herald of India, Ambassador of Maldives to India Ahmed Mohamed stated that the main focus of President Abdulla Yameen Gayoom is for the economic development of Maldives. The Maldivian Ambassador added that as part of the administration's commitment, the country is open to all development proposals that are in sync with the laws of the country.
Ambassador Ahmed Mohamed affirmed that both India and China have strategic roles to play towards the economic development of Maldives and highlighted that such engagements will be in consonance with Maldives Foreign Policy Principles that states friendship with all countries based on mutual respect. The Ambassador proclaimed that Maldives will participate in any international initiative if there is economic merit for the country, noting that one of the foreign policy goals of the government is to increase the economic resilience of Maldives,
Ambassador Ahmed Mohamed described the relationship between Maldives and India as time-tested, adding that India is the closest neighbor of Maldives and has always been the first to respond whenever Maldives has faced any crisis.
After the signing of the Free Trade Agreement between China and Maldives, some opposition politicians have voiced unfounded concerns and has spread misleading information regarding the foreign relations of the Maldives. On the matter, the President has appealed not to antagonise India as it is one of the closest friends and allies of the Maldives.
Speaking about the FTA between China and Maldives, the Ambassador to India stated that free trade agreements are one of the strongest tools of economic diplomacy. Furthermore, the Ambassador dismissed concerns that bilateral relations between Maldives and India have hit a rocky patch, assuring that there is no friction between India and Maldives. Ambassador reaffirmed commitment of the Maldivian government to the India First Policy. In conclusion, the Ambassador reiterated that ties between Maldives and India are built on a very strong foundation and is independent of relations that the Maldives or India has with other countries.
Maldives has always considered India as a valued partner in the Indian Ocean. Maldives and India share ethnic, linguistic, cultural, religious and commercial links steeped in antiquity and enjoy cordial and multi-dimensional relations. Maldives and India signed six agreements in different sectors in April 2016 to boost bilateral relations between both maritime neighbouring countries. These agreements were inked after comprehensive talks between President Yameen and Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi in New Delhi. These agreements include cooperation in counter-terrorism, defence cooperation and conservation of heritage sites.