The Maldives president-elect, Mohamed Muizzu, has sent invitations to a number of nations, including India, for his oath-taking on November 17, according to diplomatic sources. Though those close to Muizzu have refuted any Beijing slant in his foreign policy, the government has not yet decided who will represent India at the swearing-in ceremony of a leader who is seen as pro-China.
In 2018, PM Narendra Modi was the only head of state to visit Male for the inauguration of Ibrahim Solih, Muizzu's predecessor. However, there were very different conditions because Solih was the representative of the Maldivian Democratic organisation, an apolitical organisation with a more favourable position towards India.
The Indian government was also relieved to see the return of China-friendly Abdulla Yameen, the predecessor of Ibrahim Solih. Yameen was imprisoned later on corruption charges, but he is now hoping to obtain an early release as his partner Muizzu assumes the presidency.
When asked about the invitation to India, a spokesperson for Muizzu told the media that as a policy, Muizzu did not intend to focus on any specific invitation. “We treat all invitations in the same order of importance. In this matter, all neighbouring countries, close partners of Maldives and multilateral organisations have been invited,” said the official. China is among the countries that have been invited. Since he defeated Solih in the presidential run-off in September, Muizzu has repeatedly said he will keep his poll promise to rid the archipelago of Indian military presence, although, as he himself has admitted, he isn’t aware of the number of Indian troops stationed in the Maldives.