After a diplomatic row with India, Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu has requested New Delhi for debt relief measures, while stating that India will continue to remain Maldives’ “closest ally,” local media has reported. The Maldives owed approximately $400.9 million to India at the end of last year.

He also claimed that he has “not taken any action nor made any statements” that may strain the relationship between the two countries.

On Thursday, in his first interview with the local media since assuming office, President Muizzu said India was instrumental in providing aid to the Maldives and implemented the greatest number of projects.

In an interview with local media ‘Mihaaru’, Muizzu said that he hopes India will accommodate debt relief measures for the Maldives’ in the repayment of the hefty loans taken from the country over consecutive governments.

“The conditions we have inherited are such that there are very large loans taken from India. Hence, we are holding discussions to explore leniencies in the repayment structure of these loans. Instead of halting any ongoing projects, proceed with them at speed. So I see no reason for any adverse effects (on Maldives-India relations),” he said.

Notably, Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu has displayed ‘anti-India’ rhetoric and he even ran the electoral campaign on the line of ‘India Out’. Since coming to power, he has taken several steps that have been unconventional from the point of India-Maldives ties.