Speaker of the Parliament and former President of the Maldives Mohamed Nasheed has said two countries should not be played against each other. Nasheed made the statement in an interview given to India's The Hindu newspaper.
Speaking regarding the 'India Out' campaign led by former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayyoom, Nasheed said President Yameen had a lot of bad blood against India and that his 'India Out' campaign and narrative made the people of the Maldives uneasy.
When asked about Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi's recent visit to the Maldives, Nasheed said he had always believed that two countries should not be pitted against each other. He said it is important for the Maldives to be 'good and honest' with its friend and praised India for all the assistance extended by the country to the Maldives.
"India is our neighbor and the first port of call in everything. I don't think that Indian assistance in the Maldives needs to be shadowed with something else," he said.
Speaker of the Parliament and former President of the Maldives Mohamed Nasheed
