seas, values, history, and interests. But, the opposition, headed by former President Abdulla Yameen, who favors China, is seriously involved in the India Out campaign. Additionally, India and the Maldives launched the National College of Policing and Law Enforcement, which is a project backed by India. According to Shahid, this was the island’s first institution of this capacity dedicated to police and law enforcement training.
India’s extended coastal radar system, which now consists of ten radar systems, was also delivered to the Maldives by Jaishankar in order to boost regional security. Jaishankar took to Twitter and explained the radar system as an outcome of the MEA’s collaboration with the Navy for regional security and a prominent illustration of India’s ‘SAGAR’ and ‘Neighborhood First’ policies.
Shahid revealed the importance of the foreign minister’s visit. He said, “This is his third visit to the Maldives since he took office in May 2019. This is the first official bilateral visit that is being hosted out of Malé (Addu). Several other projects being undertaken with Indian assistance in Addu City were also inaugurated today. This includes the groundbreaking road development project, an inauguration of a tourism zone, and a drug detox facility”.
In a clear jab at China, Jaishankar mentioned that India’s connection with the Maldives was open and quite transparent. He released a joint press statement along with Shahid, noting that the long-standing relationship is set to take a quantum leap. He said, “Our development partnership — which is transparent, which is driven by the needs and priorities of the people and the government of Maldives — ranges upwards of $2.6 billion in terms of grants, loans, budgetary support, capacity building and training assistance”.
