India, Maldives foreign ministers hold 'frank talks' at NAM Summit

NEW DELHI: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met with his Maldivian counterpart Moosa Zameer on the sidelines of NAM Summit and held a "frank conversation" on ties. Withdrawal of Indian military personnel from Maldives was among the key talking points.

Ties have been strained following Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu's call for the withdrawal of Indian military personnel from his country by March 15 and his verbal attack against India following his China trip. "Met Maldives FM @MoosaZameer today in Kampala. A frank conversation on India-Maldives ties. Also discussed NAM [Non-Aligned Movement]-related issues," Jaishankar said in a post on X. The two met at the sidelines of a ministerial meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in the Ugandan capital city of Kampala on Thursday. Zameer, in a post on X, said that India and Maldives are committed to "further strengthening and expanding our cooperation."