Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been invited to attend the swearing-in ceremony of President-Elect Dr. Mohamed Muizzu on November 17.
Asked about reports in Indian media about the invitation sent to Modi, President-Elect's Office Spokesman Firuzul Mohamed confirmed the invitation, which he said was part of invitations sent to the leaders of all neighbouring countries.
"As we have noted before, invitations have been extended to all neighbouring countries and countries with close relationships," he said.
Despite the invitation, Muizzu's Progressive Party of Maldives-People's National Congress (PPM-PNC) believes that India was offered many avenues to undermine the country's independence due to close ties under President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih's administration.
In his first address after the presidential election, Muizzu assured the public that he would expel Indian soldiers based in the Maldives.
Since then, he has repeated the assertion in media interviews.
President-Elect Muizzu also met with the Indian High Commissioner after the election.
After the meeting, Muizzu said he told the ambassador that there were several questions concerning the issue of Indian soldiers in the Maldives and that it was important to have answers.
The ambassador's response was that concerns could be addressed through dialogue, Muizzu said.
In interviews with international media since the election, Muizzu said he would maintain relations with India and pursue a neutral policy to ensure that the Maldives is not entangled in geopolitical rivalry between India and China.
Relations with India severely deteriorated during the PPM-PNC's first government under former President Abdulla Yameen.
Closer ties were fostered with India's rival China, which provided loans and financial assistance to carry out infrastructure projects.
While the outgoing administration planned many projects with Indian loan assistance, the opposition conducted an "India Out" campaign calling for the removal of Indian soldiers in the Maldives.
Questions were raised about future relations with India under Muizzu's administration for such reasons.
