Maldivians view the relationship with India as "a steady force" amid the worsening financial crisis, Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. Subramaniam Jaishankar has said.
Speaking about India's relations with its neighbours during the launch event of a book in New Delhi on Friday, Jaishankar said there have been "ups and downs" in India's foreign policy towards the Maldives.
He added that there has been a lack of consistency in India's foreign policy towards the Maldives and asserted that India is deeply invested in its relationship with the Maldives.
"There is a recognition in the Maldives that this relationship is a steady force when they are getting into choppy waters where their own prospects are concerned as far as economic challenges," he claimed.
India and Maldives have had very close relations since the government of former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom. Through the relationship, the country has also provided significant assistance to Maldives' development.
However, relations deteriorated in the administration of former President Abdulla Yameen from 2013 to 2018.
In the last five years from 2018 to 2023, the government of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih again drew closer to India.
But, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, who won last year's presidential election, came to power through an anti-India campaign and has been increasingly critical of India. The relations suffered a major setback when three deputy ministers insulted Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in January.
It resulted in a social media campaign to boycott Maldives tourism. The country has seen a sharp decline in the number of tourists from India this year.
