Mohamed Muizzu

Two journalists are jailed in Maldives for reporting on the president's alleged affair.

Maldives police raid a news outlet over a report alleging the president's affair, seizing computers and imposing travel bans on editors.

The Maldives faces obstacles securing an Indian currency swap extension due to regulatory constraints, threatening to worsen its liquidity crisis amid rising debt, tourism decline, and billion-dollar repayments due this year.

Bangladesh Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman may visit Delhi. Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma extended an invitation. A visit is planned for April.

President Mohamed Muizzu announced the Maldives repaid a second $50 million treasury bill to India, addressing a $150 million debt burden created by the previous administration through rolled-over financial support since 2019.

South Asian countries prefer India over China for help amid the fuel crisis due to its reliable response.

China enhances defence cooperation with the Maldives through a military assistance agreement in March 2024.

Sri Lanka and the Maldives agreed Monday to strengthen security cooperation amid escalating maritime threats from Middle East conflicts, including a US submarine incident that killed 104 sailors near Sri Lanka's coast.

South Asian nations increasingly prefer India over China for fuel crisis assistance, with India supplying petroleum to Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Maldives amid Middle East disruptions, leveraging geographical proximity and responsive partnerships over China's large-scale infrastructure investments.

The Maldives stated it will not recognize the Chagos Islands deal with the UK. This move affects Keir Starmer's deal. A concrete next step is not specified.