Former President Mohamed Nasheed has on Thursday held discussions regarding the dangers of Maldives falling into a debt trap, with Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.
In a meeting in New Delhi on Thursday, both parties also discussed other areas of mutual concern such as climate change and extremism.
Delighted to meet Indian External Affairs Minister @SushmaSwaraj in New Delhi today. Good discussion on 3 areas of mutual concern: climate change, extremism, and the danger of Maldives falling into a ‘debt trap’ because of the reckless borrowing of previous administration. pic.twitter.com/E7tWlRVt7N
— Mohamed Nasheed (@MohamedNasheed) February 14, 2019
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In a tweet posted following the meeting, Nasheed wrote that he and Minister Swaraj had held a good discussion on the danger of Maldives falling into a debt trap as a result of “reckless borrowing” during former President Abdulla Yameen’s administration.
Nasheed travelled to India in upon the invitation of the country’s Council for Chancellor Relations and the Jawaharlal Nehru University.
During the tenure of ex-President Yameen, his government had borrowed hefty amounts from China for development projects
The most notable development project conducted in partnership with China was the China-Maldives friendship bridge or Sinamale Bridge for which almost USD 300 million was spent out of which USD 116 million is free aid by the Chinese government and USD 72 million is allocated as loan by the Chinese government.
Coalition leader Nasheed asserts that President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s government will work to save Maldives from such downfalls.