India, Maldives look to reset ties

MALé, MALDIVES:

India's foreign minister called for stronger ties with the Maldives on Saturday, on his first trip to the archipelago nation since its pro-China president expelled Indian troops.

Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said he was "committed to deepen India-Maldives ties", after meeting President Mohamed Muizzu in Male on Saturday.

Jaishankar earlier said he was in the Maldives to "take stock of our defence and security engagement", months after Muizzu's administration signed a military assistance pact with Beijing.

Known as a luxury holiday destination with pristine white sand beaches and secluded resorts, the atoll nation has also become a geopolitical hotspot.