Jaishankar has reached Maldives at a time when ‘India Out’ campaign is being run in Maldives at the behest of China. The architect of this campaign is former President Yameen who is continuously making poisonous statements against India. Not only this, many workers of his party had violently demonstrated in the yoga program organized by the Indian Embassy. Yameen now wants to somehow oust the current government of Ibrahim Mohamed Solih from power in an early general election. Analysts say that Yameen is getting full support of China in this.
Maldives is still under the debt of China and India has given it millions of dollars in aid. Not only this, India also helped Maldives during Covid. Jaishankar wants to take this friendship further so that China’s move can be failed. Jaishankar will then visit Sri Lanka which is currently facing a severe economic crisis. India has sent billions of dollars in aid to Sri Lanka in the last few months. Now Sri Lanka wants India to restructure its debt.
Actually, Sri Lanka wants to take a loan of $ 2.9 billion from the IMF. For this reason, Sri Lanka seeks financial assurance from its creditor countries China, Japan and India. IMF has made it clear to Sri Lanka that if it wants a loan, then India and China should prepare to reduce their debt. India has assured this but there is no response from China yet. Jaishankar will also meet Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe. In a statement issued by the Indian Foreign Minister, it has been said that Sri Lanka is a close neighbor and friend. India stands by the people of Sri Lanka at all times.