Maldives FM: ‘India Out’ may have involved ‘external’ actors; we wish to strengthen ties

Foreign Minister Dr. Iruthisham Adam sought to distance the incumbent Maldivian administration from the ‘India Out’ movement the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) led back when it was in the opposition, suggesting that it might have involved “external sources”, and adding that the administration wished to strengthen Maldives-India ties.

The newly-appointed Foreign Minister, who is in India on her first official trip, told news outlet WION in an interview that both Maldivian President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s policies were directed at maintaining a mutually beneficial partnership.

She gave the interview after a meeting with Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar on Wednesday.

When questioned about the anti-India sentiments that grew in the Maldives a couple of years back, Iruthisham responded that “any difficulty or misunderstanding” might have involved “external sources.”

“We believe that any difficulty or misunderstanding may or might have been… We do not know how it can be… Or it could be from external sources,” she said.

Maldives eyes India FTA signing by the end of 2026, says Foreign Minister Iruthisham Adam @IruthishamAdam ; Calls ties "very close".

Full interview:pic.twitter.com/i4LNFxRMPH

— Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) May 14, 2026

Iruthisham quickly went on to say that President Muizzu’s administration wished to strengthen ties with India, and that the two countries had in fact gotten closer under his leadership.

Relations between Maldives and India had been strained in the early days of the administration of President Muizzu, who came to power in 2023 on the back of an ‘India Out’ campaign to expel Indian soldiers from the Maldives. Things deteriorated further after three junior ministers within the administration made derogatory remarks on social media regarding India and PM Modi himself, and after President Muizzu said that Maldives couldn’t be “bullied” – a remark that was widely believed to have been directed at India.

But relations were later mended, as officials from both Maldives and India repeatedly expressed keenness to maintaining relations and engaged in several high-level visits, including by the two country’s leaders themselves.

Iruthisham noted that India has always been the first responder in times of need by the Maldives, including the Covid-19 pandemic. And has consistently provided budgetary support and supported infrastructure projects and socioeconomic development of the country.

She said that during her meeting with Jaishankar, the two sides agreed to rebuild trust.

“We agreed we will continue to rebuild trust and confidence between our two countries. [That] through diplomacy, we will develop more understanding, and contribute to the strengthening of or enhancement of our bilateral cooperation,” she said.