Indian media reports that President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom has given Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi the full assurance that the recently-passed foreign land acquisition bill will not - in any way - allow the Maldives to be available to any foreign parties for military intentions.
According to the Indian Express, the assurance was given as a response to a letter sent by the Indian Prime Minister, in which he had expressed concern over the passing of the constitutional amendment.
In the letter, which was handed to President Yameen last week by Indian Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar, Prime Minister Modi expressed concerns that the enactment of the new law would open possibilities of the Maldivian lands to be used by China to establish military bases.
Along with the reassurance that the foreign land acquisition law will allow the Maldives to cause any risks to its neighboring countries, President Yameen’s response also stressed that the ties between Maldives and India still remain strong.
The Indian news outlet had relayed the response letter as noting that Prime Minister Modi had postponed his scheduled trip to the Maldives.
Following the ratification to the constitutional amendment, President Yameen had expressed to neighboring countries of the same assurances, which were backed by Vice-President Ahmed Adeeb - who says that the initiative will boost the country’s investment to compete with the quality development standards as seen in Dubai or Singapore.