India and Maldives ties

14 Oct 2023 7 mins Download PDF

Why in the News?

The recent Maldives Presidential election led to winning of Mohamed Muizzu who has been known for his Anti-India Campaign in Maldives.

India’s footprints in Maldives:

1. They are deep-rooted, both historically and in contemporary relations in spite of changes caused due to change in leadership in Maldives. 
2. India as the closest neighbour:
   1. Maldives with an area of 90,000 sq km encompasses 99.6 per cent of the sea and remaining land is distributed over more than 1,200 islands.
   2. It is predicted that 80% of Maldives will cease to exist by 2050 due to “Global Boiling”.
   3. Given that geography is destiny, it is true for both the countries as they are entwined.
3. Historical ties:
   1. Maldives’ challenges to democratic governance:
      1. a constitution that bars anyone non-Sunni to become a Maldivian citizen
      2. a nascent civil society
      3. a tradition of patronage
      4. a problem of increasing drug abuse
      5. a distorted labour market
      6. growing inequality
      7. an economy dependent on external factors
      8. growing trend of religious extremism
   2. India has always been a factor in Maldives, for instance, there was only Buddhism in Maldives which was replaced in the 12th century by Islam.
   3. During the British protectorate years (1887-1965), Maldives depended on India for essentials and The State Bank of India was the major financer that helped to build the country’s tourist economy.
   4. Even today, State Bank of India acts as the largest bank in the island country. 
   5. India provided a helping hand in all circumstances to Maldives:
      1. For instance, during an attempted coup in 1988.
      2. 2004 Tsunami
      3. 2014 water shortage
4. Enormous scale of cooperation with India:
   1. India’s gifting of helicopters
   2. Capacity building through joint exercises like the Ekuverin, Ekatha, surveillance assets
   3. Training of 1,400 MNDF trainers in recent years
   4. Disaster management
   5. Security assistance to Maldives in exchange of its hand of friendship and trust.
   6. Indian teachers and doctors play a critical role in the country especially in the remote inhabited islands. 
   7. Development projects such as greater Male connectivity.
   8. India provides most essential items in bulk like rice, wheat flour, sugar, potatoes and onions, eggs, vegetables as special dispensation.
5. High stakes of Maldives for India:
   1. Maldives is a first line of defence against
      1. Terrorism
      2. Piracy on the high seas
      3. Drug trafficking
      4. Narcotics
      5. Other maritime crimes
   2. The China factor:
      1. China’s entry into Maldives is solely to advance its own interests through debt financing, leading to debt traps and consequent hegemony of China.
      2. China’s policy of interference in the internal politics and support to conservative elements in Maldives can become a barrier in development of a vibrant democracy in Maldives.