India provides platform, Maldives inches closer to re-enter Commonwealth

NEW DELHI: In a smart diplomatic move, India has provided a platform for engagement between the Maldives and the Commonwealth Secretariat here that could enable the Indian Ocean nation’s re-entry into the grouping next month, ET has learnt.

Maldives foreign minister Abdullah Shahid met Commonwealth secretary general Patricia Scotland here earlier this month on the sidelines of the Raisina Dialogue. India, as a key member of the grouping, has been nudging the re-entry of its neighbour, since a new government in Male was voted to power in 2018.

When Scotland met Shahid, the minister thanked her for expediting Maldives’ bid to rejoin the Commonwealth and discussed procedures in going forward, officials told ET.

The Commonwealth had informed the Maldivian government that member states did not object to the re-admission of the Maldives, and invited the island nation to submit its formal membership application.

Last year, India called for fast-tracking of the process for re-admission of the Maldives to the Commonwealth. The pitch was made by foreign minister S Jaishankar at the Commonwealth Foreign Ministers meet in London on July 10 and 11.

Maldives president Ibrahim Mohamed Solih had in December 2018 requested re-admission to the Commonwealth. The Maldives withdrew from the Commonwealth in 2016 under then president Abdulla Yameen. He had accused the group of interfering with the country's internal affairs after it raised concerns over democracy and human rights.

But the Solih government believe being part of the 53-member Commonwealth will provide young Maldivians with opportunities to get educational scholarships and for the country's athletes to play internationally.