Maldives Should Fully Support India On Pahalgam, Says Ambassador Bhatia Ahead Of PM Modi's Visit

Last Updated:July 24, 2025, 08:32 IST

Rajiv Bhatia said despite Muizzu’s missteps, India handled the situation with maturity and pragmatism and continued its good works in Maldives

Ambassador Rajiv Bhatia said Maldives has realised that India is the one which helps it in times of crisis. (PTI)

Maldives should come out strongly in full support of India on the Pahalgam terror attack and the issue of combating international terrorism when Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits Male this week, Ambassador Rajiv Bhatia, who is an expert on Maldives, has told CNN-News18 in an interview.

Bhatia earlier headed the division responsible for relations with Maldives in the Ministry of External Affairs. He said the last presidential elections in Maldives in 2023 were fought on the plank of ‘India Out’ campaign by Mohamed Muizzu, and the atmosphere was spoilt. Muizzu then paid visits to Turkey and China, said Bhatia, a Distinguished Fellow at Gateway House.

“But among the people of Maldives and various political parties, there is a lot of love for India. That emerged eventually and created pressure upon Muizzu. He hoped for a lot from China, but that was not achieved. India, however, handled the situation with maturity and pragmatism. We did not react and continued with the good works we had been doing in Maldives," Bhatia said.

He said Maldives has realised that India is the one that helps it in times of crisis. “They had a lot of expectations from China and the West but they were not fulfilled," Bhatia said. He said India-Maldives relations have been on a good wicket for a long period ever since Maldives got independence in 1965. “There were some downs in the past, but now the relationship is moving upwards. This visit by our PM will cement it," he said.

“Under all Presidents, except one, from President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom onwards—the relationship was very friendly and cordial. Then, a particular President (Muizzu) came, and he appeared very pro-China. So that was a semicolon in the relationship," Bhatia told CNN-News18. He pointed out how Muizzu wanted to remove the 75 Indian soldiers who were in Male for looking after their choppers for medical emergencies.

How the Relationship Got Repaired

Bhatia said that normally, the President of Maldives makes his first trip to India, but Muizzu went to Turkey and China where he signed 20 agreements. “So, it seemed he was unhappy with India. But the basic considerations of geographical proximity, historical relationship and mutual interests dominated the relationship. And as a result, two things happened last year—in August, S Jaishankar visited Maldives and then President Muizzu came to India last October. That became a very productive and successful visit," Ambassador Bhatia said.

He said one must note that PM Modi is now the ‘guest of honour’ at the 60th Independence Day celebrations of Maldives, which is significant per se.

“But PM Modi’s visits are not just about protocol and pomp. They are about substantive results. There will be discussions with the political leadership, the business community, the intellectual community, the diaspora and other dignitaries of the government. Some new agreements may be signed, and there could be closer coordination on global and regional issues."

Bhatia said defence cooperation is very important, and India has been helping the police and security authorities in Maldives, along with the defence and navy of Maldives, over a long period.

“Maldives needs India a lot, we are their immediate neighbour who has always helped them. When tsunami crisis came, water crisis happened, when there was a security concern due to terrorists—India went out of its way to help them. We have a positive image there," Bhatia said.

“Without referring to a particular country (China) with which undoubtedly there is geopolitical competition in and around Maldives, the visit itself will convey the signal that India remains one of the most important strategic partners of Maldives," Bhatia said. He added that India played such a role in Sri Lanka and also in Maldives by way of financial assistance.

“India’s generosity is not over. It will be more in the future, and new initiatives will emerge," Bhatia said.

Aman Sharma

Aman Sharma, Executive Editor - National Affairs at CNN-News18, and Bureau Chief at News18 in Delhi, has over two decades of experience in covering the wide spectrum of politics and the Prime Minister’s Office....Read More

Aman Sharma, Executive Editor - National Affairs at CNN-News18, and Bureau Chief at News18 in Delhi, has over two decades of experience in covering the wide spectrum of politics and the Prime Minister’s Office....

Read More

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Maldives

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