As Maldives President Muhammad Muizzu visits India, the main opposition on Tuesday took a swipe at his naive and inexperienced administration and said it has now realised that diplomacy cannot be conducted through lies and deceit.

He agreed to open an Indian consulate and endorsed an India-funded military harbor — projects he previously opposed as they allegedly threatened Maldivian sovereignty.

Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held talks on Monday, with New Delhi promising to strengthen strategic cooperation as the island nation recovers from an economic crisis.