India clarified on Thursday that it has not presented any formal proposal to the Maldives regarding a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA), highlighting its willingness to entertain such a pact if expressed by the island nation.
External Affairs Ministry spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, stated, "The Government of India has not put forward any specific proposal for a bilateral FTA with the Maldives."
He added, "If the Government of Maldives expresses interest in establishing an FTA with India, we will duly consider it."
Jaiswal's remarks were made during his routine media briefing in response to inquiries.
Recently, Maldivian Minister for Economic Development and Trade, Mohamed Saeed, hinted at India's interest in initiating discussions for an FTA between the two nations.
"They (India) want there to be a Free Trade Agreement with Maldives, in addition to SAFTA," Saeed disclosed during a press conference in Male.
Speaking about the Maldivian President's commitment to fostering trade ties, Saeed mentioned that the government aims to pursue such agreements with multiple countries to facilitate smoother trade operations.
India-Maldives relations experienced strains since November last year following President Mohamed Muizzu's assumption of office, characterized by his pro-China stance. His immediate demand for the withdrawal of Indian military personnel further exacerbated tensions.
However, in a recent development, the last of the Indian military personnel were replaced by civilians earlier this month, signaling a potential easing of tensions.
The Maldives holds strategic significance for India in the Indian Ocean Region, and bilateral relations, particularly in defense and security, saw notable improvements during the previous administration in Male.
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