FM Khaleel on second trip to India in two months

Maldivian Foreign Minister Dr. Abdulla Khaleel has departed on another official visit to India on Sunday.

Minister Khaleel had traveled to Indian on an official visit two months ago, on March 16^th, to attend the 10^th edition of Raisina Dialogue held in India’s capital New Delhi.

During this trip, the Minister had met with his Indian counterpart, Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar.

Sun has learned that Minister Khaleel departed on an official visit to India on Sunday, accompanied by a high-level delegation from the Maldivian government. The purpose of the visit is to attend a meeting of the High-level Core Group between the Maldives and India.

The High-Level Core Group was formed following a meeting between Maldivian President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during President Muizzu’s visit to India in October. The purpose of the Group is to review bilateral projects underway.

While Indian media outlets have reported some details regarding Minister Khaleel’s visit to the country, the Maldivian government has yet to disclose any details.

Relations between Maldives and India had been strained in the early days of President Muizzu’s presidency after he adopted a foreign policy that tilted away from the island nation’s traditional ally, India.

But relations were later mended, as officials from both Male’ and Delhi repeatedly expressed keenness to maintaining relations and engaged in several high-level visits.