Solih administration's new foreign policy takes Maldives to new heights

The international community eyed the Maldives with misconceptions and doubts with the inauguration of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s administration, due to the way foreign policies were shaped by Solih’s predecessor, now incarcerated former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom.

The country’s unkempt decision to leave the Commonwealth of Nations is one such example, another being the previous government’s decision to sever the over 40-year-long diplomatic relations with Iran followed by the rift in historic foreign relations with Qatar.

Also during the administration that Solih bested during the presidential elections of September 2018, the relations between Maldives and neighboring India had been soured.

Countries such as Europe and the United States of America, known for their value of democratic principles, independence and human rights, especially didn’t shy away from expressing displeasure with the Yameen administration’s gross hindrances to media freedom and jailing of political figures.

The Yameen administration was known for tyranny through acts such as throwing political figures behind bars, obstructing the rights and freedom guaranteed to media among many other misdemeanors that plagued the very air of Maldives with fear and distress.

It wasn’t just the Maldivian people that wanted to shed the layers of fear enveloping them, countries diplomatically tied to the Maldives also couldn’t endure these policies.

In light of this, the new regime of Solih was forced to redirect the government’s foreign policies to go along with the flow of the global rhythm as well as the people’s desires.

As part of the government’s efforts to steer foreign policies eloquently, the incumbent Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid has engaged in fruitful discussions with officials ranked at different levels from over 80 countries, since assuming office.

These include presidents from 11 countries, prime ministers from 13 countries, foreign ministers from 39 countries, envoys from 56 countries as well as high-level delegates from 81 different countries.

These resulted in countless proficiencies for the Maldivian people and the government, one of which is the waiving visas for neighboring India and Sri Lanka. As such, Sri Lanka paved eases for Maldivians in acquiring on-arrival visas for up to 90 days as well as providing eases for the family members of under-18 Maldivian students in the country.

As for India, the neighboring country has granted Maldivians to travel visa-free to the island nation for 90 days, in every six-month period, for business, tourism and medical purposes. The government also approved multiple-entry student visas for Maldivian students seeking to complete their studies from India, as well as the parents of under-18 Maldivian students studying in the neighboring country.

Other efficiencies provided by the neighboring country include granting visas for Maldivian patients requiring long-term treatment, for stays as long as six months to one year and for family members of students completing higher education and research in India.

Further, Maldives also entered visa waiver agreements with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Russia, Thailand, Morocco, since Solih assumed office in November 2018.