New Delhi: After Bangladesh, the Maldives has now raised the clarion call for the revival of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), with President Mohamed Muizzu willing to “mediate” issues between India and Pakistan.
In his Independence Address Sunday, Muizzu urged the differences between the members of SAARC should be solved through “dialogue” while also highlighting Malé’s shift in foreign policy, taking the country closer to the Arab world than seen in previous administrations.
“The President also addressed the current impasse within the SAARC. Reiterating that differences should be resolved through dialogue. He called on SAARC member-states to return to the negotiating table in the interest of regional peace and cooperation. He added that the Maldives stands ready to serve as a mediator,” the President’s office said in a statement.
“Referring to the foreign policies pursued by some previous administrations, which distanced the Maldives from the Arab and Islamic world, the President said such an approach did not reflect the aspirations of the Maldivian people.”
Muizzu’s push for the revival of SAARC follows Dhaka’s own efforts in the last few months to push India towards reviving the regional organisation that has been dormant for the last decade due to the breakdown in ties between New Delhi and Islamabad.
The eight member-organisation includes India, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, the Maldives, Bhutan, and Nepal. The last SAARC summit was to be held in Pakistan in 2016, but was boycotted by India, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, the Maldives and Bhutan following the Uri terror attack.
Dhaka most recently called for the revival of SAARC during the meeting of the National Security Chiefs of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) earlier this month in New Delhi. India has been pushing for closer cooperation within the BIMSTEC member-states while downplaying SAARC.Muizzu’s comments came as Bangladeshi Foreign Minister and the incoming president of the United Nations General Assembly Khalilur Rahman attended the Maldives’ 61st Independence Day as a special guest.
Prince Mansour bin Mutaib bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Advisor to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, Minister of State and Cabinet Member of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, was the Guest of Honour at the celebrations.
“The President stressed that the Maldives will continue to strengthen relations with Arab and Islamic countries while maintaining close ties with all nations that cooperate with the Maldives for mutual benefit,” said the statement published by the President of Maldives’ office.
Muizzu is at the midway point in his five-year term. He came to power in November 2023 on the back of a campaign promising to pivot Malé away from India as a part of his foreign policy vision. However, over the last two years, the two governments have collaborated closely as New Delhi has stepped in repeatedly to keep the moribound Maldivian economy ticking.
The two countries have concluded the first rounds of negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA). India has consistently rolled over two treasury bills worth $50 million owed by Malé, to ensure it is able to maintain the liquidity of foreign exchange reserves. India extended a $585 million line of credit to Malé last year when Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the country’s 60th Independence Day celebrations.
In 2024, during Muizzu’s visit to New Delhi, India announced two-currency swap lines – worth $400 million as well as a similar amount in Rupees – to ensure the financial stability of the cash-strapped country.
Maldives’ foreign exchange reserves touched $1.32 billion in March 2026, the highest it had hit in almost a decade, according to the Maldivian Monetary Authority (MMA). However since the war in West Asia began, Maldives’ foreign exchange reserves have fallen sharply to $670 million in June 2026.
The Maldivian President has made moves to diversify his foreign relationships, with visits to Türkiye early in his tenure. His government had signed a deal with Ankara to purchase unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to patrol the island archipelago’s maritime borders.
Muizzu’s latest call for the revival of SAARC joins the chorus led by Dhaka. For Bangladesh, SAARC is seen as a legacy of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s father President Ziaur Rahman. President Rahman formally proposed the regional association before his assassination in 1981. The organisation was eventually formed in 1985.
(Edited by Tony Rai)
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