President Solih to stay at official presidential palace during visit to India

During his official trip to India later this month, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih will stay at Rashtrapati Bhawan- the official presidential palace located in the centre of Delhi.

While this will be President Solih’s maiden state visit since assuming office on November 17, India’s The Economic Times reports that by housing him in Rashtrapati Bhawan “would display special warmth towards the new leader of the key Indian Ocean region”.

However, the President’s Office has not disclosed any such details regarding the president’s trip.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a special appearance at Solih’s swearing-in ceremony, after having refused to visit the country throughout his predecessor, former President Abdulla Yameen’s tenure.

While the two parties met after the ceremony, the prime minister had invited him to India. The trip was made official during Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid’s visit there in November.

During the trip, President Solih is expected to sign a visa agreement with India, to “ease current difficulties”.

According to The Economic Times, Solih's visit will “also review security and defence matters, including ongoing projects and new areas of cooperation”.

President Solih is to depart to India on December 17.

Bilateral ties between Maldives and India had deteriorated during the Yameen administration, as the focus was more on strengthening ties with China.