Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 04:37am on 26 May 2024,Sunday India Global
India is seeking a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the Maldives, beyond the existing South Asian Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA), Maldives' Minister of Economic Development and Trade Mohamed Saeed announced. This initiative follows a diplomatic rift since November 2023, when pro-China President Mohamed Muizzu took office and demanded the withdrawal of Indian troops from the Maldives. The final Indian military personnel were replaced by civilians earlier this month. The Maldives aims to establish FTAs with multiple countries to facilitate trade. Discussions between India and the Maldives are ongoing.
