Why Maldives in News? – Reasons, Background, Previous Conflict, Boycott Campaign, India-Maldives Relation & Significance

Maldivian leader, have made disparaging comment about Prime Minister Narendra Modi Lakshadweep’s Beach visit. As well as the previous conflict regarding former president Mohamed Nasheed and ministers Ahmed Naseem and Fayyaz Ismail, made anti-India remarks in public speeches, criticizing India's military presence in the Maldives and opposition to a defense cooperation deal. India responded by rejecting the remarks, highlighting its investments in the Maldives and its 'Neighborhood First' policy. The anti-India rhetoric threatens to push the Maldives closer to China and Pakistan.

Maldives Background

The Maldives is an island nation in the Indian Ocean comprising of about 1,200 coral islands grouped into 26 atolls. It is located about 400 miles southwest of India. With a population of over 515,000, it is one of the world's most geographically dispersed sovereign states as well as the world’s lowest country with an average elevation above sea level of just 1.5 meters.

Politically, Maldives follows the presidential system of governance. The current president is Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.

Reasons Why Maldives is in News?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Visit to Lakshadweep

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi traveled to the archipelago of Lakshadweep, which is close to the Maldives, in December of 2023. Some in the Maldives reportedly thought that this visit was an attempt to draw attention away from their nation.

A Maldivian minister named Abdulla Mahzoom Majid then made disparaging comments about PM Modi on social media, implying that India was attempting to compete with the Maldives in beach tourism. India responded negatively to these remarks.

India Maldives Previous Conflict

Anti-India Remarks by Maldivian Leaders

In recent weeks, certain leaders of the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) have stoked controversy through their anti-India remarks in public speeches. This includes former Maldivian president and current Parliament Speaker Mohamed Nasheed as well as senior ministers like Ahmed Naseem and Fayyaz Ismail. They made remarks calling for an end to Indian military presence in Maldives as well as opposition to an India-Maldives defense cooperation deal signed last year. Their tone has been described as "India Out" campaign against Delhi’s influence. These comments come even as India remains the Maldives’ closest security partner for decades now. This Indian Ocean island nation still relies heavily on India for ensuring its national security against extremist elements.

India’s Strong Rebuttal

In response, India issued a sharply worded statement rejecting the “motivated and mischievous” remarks questioning the merits of the bilateral cooperation with the island nation. Indian foreign ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said the remarks are not only contrary to the close ties between India and Maldives but also detrimental to Maldives' own national security interests. India also highlighted its substantive and continued investments in the people of Maldives through development projects in line with its ‘Neighborhood First’ policy.

Significance of Ties with the Maldives

India has had traditionally close relations with the Maldives given its proximity in an important maritime neighborhood. However, in recent years China has been making increasing inroads posing challenge to India’s natural leadership position in South Asia. Against this backdrop, the anti-India rhetoric by sections of Maldivian leadership appears to be creating fresh diplomatic tensions. The latest friction, if not resolved, also threatens to push the Maldives closer to China and Pakistan while weakening its own security assured by presence of the Indian armed forces.

China’s Growing Clout

While India has been the Maldives’ traditional and closest security partner for long, China has emerged as a major player in Maldivian domestic politics and governance matters. Under its Maritime Silk Road vision, China has brought the Maldives into its sphere of influence using economic and commercial incentives through its infamous “debt trap diplomacy”. These provide the context for both the anti-India rhetoric as well as India’s strong rebuttal to any attempt at questioning its role as the net security provider in the Indian Ocean region in general and Maldives in particular.

Background & History of India-Maldives Relations

• India was the among first nation to recognize Maldives after its independence in 1965 and soon established diplomatic relations. Since then, the two countries have built strong economic, commercial and cultural ties.
• On the strategic front, India signed a historic maritime cooperation agreement with the island nation during PM Narendra Modi’s visit in 2016. This reinforced India’s credentials as the principal net security provider in the Indian Ocean Region.
• An Action Plan for Defence was also signed in 2016 encompassing joint patrolling, aerial surveillance, training of the Maldivian defence forces, curbing activities of Islamic extremists, anti-piracy operations etc.
• This reflected India’s role as Maldives’ first responder during crises – whether the 1988 attempted coup or the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami where the Indian Navy was the first to reach for rescue and rehabilitation.
• During Abdulla Yameen’s rule from 2013-2018 when Maldives gravitated closer to China, the tensions reached a peak. But ties were back on track after Ibrahim Solih was elected in 2018.

Significance of Maldives for India’s Diplomacy

• The Indian Ocean region is central to India’s maritime interests and global strategic footprint. The safety, security and stability of regional partners like Maldives is thus critical.
• Maldives also holds vital importance as part of India’s Neighbourhood First policy - the centerpiece of its domestic and foreign policy vision which puts relations with neighbouring countries at the heart of international relations and diplomacy.
• Further, India is pursuing greater cooperation and engagement with Indian Ocean littoral states as part of its Indo-Pacific vision. Maldives is essential in this regard given threats from the deeply encroaching Chinese presence.
• Moreover, any instability or growth of extremist forces in Maldives also has a direct bearing on India’s national security environment.

Boycott Campaign: # IndiaOut and #BoycottMaldives

Indians, including famous people, retaliated by calling off their vacation plans to the Maldives and posting social media posts with the hashtag #BoycottMaldives. This might have dealt a serious blow to the Maldives tourism sector, which greatly depends on Indian tourists.

A boycott campaign tagged #IndiaOut was recently launched by certain groups in the Maldives against India over allegations of interference in its internal affairs and growing military presence. This has cast a shadow over traditionally close ties between the two Indian Ocean neighbours.

Way Forward

• As experts observe, the stability and security of the Indian Ocean region is vital for both India and Maldives. Hence a recalibration of ties is necessary post the latest diplomatic friction.
• The traditional bonds between both countries spanning generations need to be reinforced keeping shared security, growth and developmental interests in mind.
• Rather than jingoistic rhetoric, New Delhi and Male should pursue principled cooperation and engagement to sustain the special partnership while also expanding avenues of cooperation.
• Constructive dialogue free from rhetoric or coercion is the best way forward keeping in mind shared developmental priorities and Indian Ocean stability benefitting both India and Maldives while also offsetting harmful foreign influences in the region.

Indian Ocean archipelago has returned to the headlines owing to anti-India comments by some senior Maldivian leaders as well as the strongly worded Indian rebuttal. This latest diplomatic spat threatens the traditionally close ties between the two neighbours and highlights the looming presence of China in India's strategic backyard. Resolving the current friction through constructive dialogue and diplomacy remains the best way forward for both countries.