India’s External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar, addressed the ongoing diplomatic row between India and Maldives, stating that “politics is politics” and acknowledging that it is not guaranteed that every country will always support or agree with India. Speaking at the Manthan: Townhall meeting in Nagpur, Maharashtra, Jaishankar highlighted the importance of building a strong connect with people in different countries to maintain positive sentiments even in the face of political fluctuations.
Jaishankar emphasized that despite political ups and downs, the focus has been on establishing a strong connect with societies so that people generally have positive feelings towards India. He mentioned the efforts made in the last decade to achieve success in building these relationships. The Minister stressed that India is actively engaged in infrastructure development in various countries, involving initiatives such as road construction, electricity transmission, fuel supply, trade access, investments, and tourism.
“We are involved today in building roads, electricity transmission, supplying fuel, providing trade access, making investments, and having people holiday in other countries,” Jaishankar said, highlighting the diverse aspects of India’s engagement with other nations. He noted that these activities are integral to developing relationships, and even when things do not go smoothly, reasoning and dialogue play a crucial role in bringing them back to a positive trajectory.
The diplomatic tension between India and Maldives escalated when three Maldivian ministers made derogatory remarks against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on social media. While the Maldivian government distanced itself from the comments, the incident strained the long-standing relationship between the two countries. Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu, seen as a pro-China leader, formally requested India to withdraw its military personnel from the country, setting a deadline of March 15 for the withdrawal.
India’s response to the diplomatic situation with Maldives underscores the complexities of maintaining relationships in the realm of international politics. Jaishankar’s remarks highlight the multifaceted approach India takes, emphasizing the importance of people-to-people connections, infrastructure development, and engagement across various sectors to foster positive relations with other nations.
