After years of claiming that India’s presence in the Maldives raised sovereignty issues, President Mohamed Muizzu has now admitted there are "no serious concerns" with the agreements between the two countries. On Saturday, former Maldivian Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid strongly criticised President Muizzu for saying there were "no concerns" with the agreements signed between Male and New Delhi. Shahid accused Muizzu of deceiving the public and damaging trust in the region for his own political benefit.

"After years of false claims, President Muizzu has now confirmed there are no 'serious concerns' with the bilateral agreements between Maldives and India,” said Shahid, who is also the President of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP). "He won the 2023 presidential election on the back of a campaign that claimed these agreements threatened our sovereignty and territorial integrity. That narrative has now collapsed under his own words. It spread fear, broke trust, and damaged Maldives' reputation globally. The people of Maldives and India deserve an apology and a serious accounting for the harm caused." Shahid made his comments soon after Muizzu, at a press conference from the President's Office, played down earlier statements about India's involvement in the Maldives. 

"Bilateral discussions are ongoing. There are no issues. However, we are trying to disclose through the bilateral discussions since I made a pledge. There are no concerns," Muizzu said. Before coming to power, Muizzu’s People’s National Congress (PNC) often criticised agreements signed by the previous MDP-led government, especially with India. Muizzu and other senior party leaders claimed these deals threatened the country’s sovereignty. After Muizzu became President in November 2023, the PNC-led parliament began reviewing several important agreements, including the hydrography agreement, the Uthuru Thila Falhu agreement, and a military aircraft pact. The hydrography agreement was eventually cancelled, while the others are still on hold. Even though the administration has closely examined earlier agreements, it has not shared any details about new military deals signed with countries like China, India, and Turkiye, leading to more concerns about transparency.

Muizzu came to power with a strong nationalistic and pro-China approach, calling for the removal of Indian military personnel from the archipelago. His 'India Out' campaign played a key role in his 2023 election campaign, significantly changing the tone of Indo-Maldivian relations. But when Muizzu made his first state visit to India in October 2024, he seemed to change his tone quite a bit. In an interview with The Times of India, he said, "Maldives would never do anything that undermines the security of India. India is a valued partner and friend of the Maldives, and our relationship is built on mutual respect and shared interests."