Maldives foreign minister Abdulla Shahid on Sunday refuted reports that the country's president Ibrahim Mohamed Solih would sign a military agreement with India during his inaugural state visit to the neighbouring country.
Speaking to AVAS before departing to India with president Solih on Sunday, Shahid dismissed the allegations that the government would allow the establishment of an Indian military base in the archipelago in exchange for financial assistance or other material benefits as baseless.
Shahid accused former president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom of being behind the baseless allegations insisting that his government would not undermine the independence and sovereignty of the country in exchange for foreign assistance.
"President Solih won't sign a military agreement during his India visit. And there won't be any discussions regarding such an agreement," Shahid insisted.
The seasoned diplomat reiterated that Solih's visit would take Maldives-India relations to another level with key agreements in easing visa for Maldivians and investment cooperation would be signed.
Modi was among the more than 300 foreign dignitaries at the inauguration ceremony of Ibrahim Mohamed Solih as the country's seventh president in Male.
The visit is Modi's first to the Maldives after years of tense relations between the two countries because of Solih's predecessor's embrace of China during his tenure.
