As President Muizzu visits Delhi, Maldives opens inquiry into three key pacts signed with India

Even as President Mohamed Muizzu was visiting India for the inauguration of a new government in New Delhi, Maldives has now taken another major step that could further strain ties. The national security services committee of the People’s Majlis (parliament) of Maldives on Monday (Jun 10) opened a parliamentary inquiry into at least three agreements signed between the two governments under the watch of previous president Ibrahim Solih.

“Today, the National Security Services Committee of the parliament has decided to conduct a parliamentary inquiry to investigate actions undertaken by President @ibusolih’s administration that undermined the sovereignty and independence of the Maldives,” revealed Ahmed Azaan, a Maldivian MP, on social media.

The agreements between Male and New Delhi were signed between 2018 and 2023, including a hydrography agreement, the pact to construct and maintain a Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) Coast Guard Harbour at Sifvaru and the agreement to operate Dornier aircraft, according to local media reports.

It must be noted that the Muizzu government has already decided to scrap the agreement on hydrographic surveys. Now, questions are being asked as to why the agreement signed in the first place.

As per media reports, the parliamentary committee has been formed under Article 241 of the constitution of Maldives to "exercise continuing oversight of the operations of the security services”.

Now, a four-member panel of the committee will peruse the details of the agreements and look for discrepancies.

Ahmed Azaan and fellow parliamentarians Ahmed Nazim, Abdul Gafoor Musa and Abdul Hannan Aboobakaru are the four members of the panel.

Ironically, the development came as Muizzu met Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar in New Delhi.

“Delighted to call on President Dr Mohamed Muizzu of Maldives today in New Delhi. Look forward to India and Maldives working together closely,” Jaishankar said on X after the meeting.

Muizzu was amongst the key foreign dignitaries who had been invited to attend the oath-taking ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his ministers on June 9. This is his first official visit to India after taking office in November 2023.

(With inputs from agencies)