Maldives' foreign policy is India First: Nasheed

Former President and Speaker of Parliament Mohamed Nasheed has declared that the Maldives' foreign policy is "India First", affirming that India has always been the first to provide aid and support to the Maldives.

Speaker Nasheed made the remarks while speaking at a special event held on Saturday at the Male' Ekuveni Synthetic Track to commemorate the arrival of India's External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar to the Maldives. Speaker Nasheed recalled how India has had a history if always being the first to provide aid to the Maldives in times of crises, be it a mutiny, water shortage or even disasters such as a tsunami or pandemic.

Speaker Nasheed declared this strong track-record of aid and mutual friendship was why the Maldives' foreign policy stand was "India First". Former President also revealed that additional agreements will be signed and formalized between the two countries in the coming days.

India's External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar also spoke at the event, where he declared that the Maldives was special not only because of the island nation's natural beauty, but also because of the unbelievable amount of talent apparent in the nation's citizens and youth.

In this vein, Dr. S. Jaishankar had taken examples from the Maldives' stellar achievements at the 2019 Indian Ocean Island Games, and noted the success of the island nation's fastest runner Hassan Saaid in having secured the title of the fastest runner in South Asia. Dr. S. Jaishankar also touched down on the 2025 Indian Ocean Island Games set to be held in the Maldives, and expressed hopes that the country would perform excellently at the international sporting event.

Important agreements have been signed between India and the Maldives over the course of External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar's official visit to the island nation.