Diplomatic tensions between India and the Maldives have flared up following distasteful comments made by Maldivian ministers, prompting India to summon the Maldivian high commissioner in New Delhi. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in India conveyed its strong concerns regarding the comments made about the Indian Prime Minister by certain ministers in the Maldivian government.
The Maldivian high commissioner, Ibrahim Shaheeb, was summoned to the MEA in New Delhi, where the concerns were strongly raised. This diplomatic move followed a meeting between India’s high commissioner to the Maldives, Munu Mahawar, and Dr. Ali Naseer Mohamed, Ambassador at Large, at the Maldivian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Malé. The Indian high commission in the Maldives shared this information on social media.
In response to the controversy, Maldives took action by suspending three ministers and publicly distancing itself from their views. However, the diplomatic rift has not been fully mended. Opposition leaders in the Maldives, including former presidents Ibrahim Solih and Mohamed Nasheed, along with former foreign minister Abdulla Shahid, criticized the three ministers for their remarks. Several parliamentarians and former ministers also expressed their concerns.
The Maldivian government issued a statement acknowledging the derogatory remarks on social media platforms but emphasized that these opinions were personal and did not represent the views of the government. The government stated its commitment to taking action against those making derogatory remarks. Despite this, tensions between India and the Maldives persist.
The diplomatic row has extended beyond government circles, with Indian industry bodies joining the fray. These bodies issued statements urging travel entities to boycott the Maldives as a tourism destination. The strong response from both the Indian government and industry reflects the gravity of the situation and underscores the need for diplomatic resolutions to preserve bilateral relations.
As the situation unfolds, the impact on diplomatic ties, tourism, and public perception remains uncertain. The diplomatic spat highlights the challenges nations face in managing relations, especially when comments from individual leaders have the potential to strain ties between friendly nations.
