President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih is set to visit India on December 17.

This was confirmed by Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid during a meeting with India’s External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.

During his visit to India, Minister Shahid said that a new era of enhanced cooperation is emerging in the Maldives-India relationship under President Solih.

While Solih has chosen India as his first visit to another country as President, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s first visit to Maldives since assuming office was on November 17 when he was the guest of honour at Solih’s inauguration ceremony.

Modi had until then abstained from visiting Maldives due to the political turmoil in the country as well as former President Abdulla Yameen’s administration strengthening ties with China, India’s regional rival.