INDIA - MALDIVES RELATIONS - INTERNATIONAL

News: Friendly neighbourhood: On India-Maldives bilateral relations

 

What's in the news?

       The conviction of former Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen by a criminal court in the Maldives just a year ahead of general elections could affect his plans to lead the PPM-PNC opposition alliance.

       He faces 11 years in prison and a $5 million fine after being found guilty of corruption and money laundering links to a company he was accused of taking kickbacks from, during his tenure as President (2013-2018).

 

Key takeaways:

       Given the inimical relationship, as well as Mr. Yameen’s past close links with China, there may be some relief to Indian government over the possibility of Mr. Yameen’s disqualification.

       However, the Government needs to tread carefully when it comes to the domestic politics roiling its close maritime neighbor.

       India’s infrastructure aid, credit lines, loans and commissioning of various projects (Greater Male Connectivity Project, Hanimaadhoo airport, Hulhumale cricket stadium, Gulhifalhu port) have meant high visibility.

       In addition, close ties and high-level military exchanges since 2018 have raised speculation that India is eyeing a base.

       Even as the Solih government has been prompt in countering Mr. Yameen’s allegations, condemning the “India Out'' campaign, and arresting a senior opposition leader for threatening violence against the Indian High Commission, have gained some traction in parts of the country.

       While Mr. Yameen may not be allowed to run in the next election, this might make space for even more radical elements in the opposition combine.

       New Delhi must keep a close watch on other parts of Maldivian politics, including the rift between India’s closest friends there, President Solih and former President Nasheed, who is threatening to split the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party.

       Despite having obvious favorites in the polity, New Delhi must actively project the image of the friendly and helpful neighbor without explicitly seeking to sway next year’s election in any direction.

 

Backdrop of India - Maldives Relations:

       India and Maldives are neighbors sharing a maritime border.

       Both nations established diplomatic relations after the independence of Maldives from British rule in 1966.

       India was one of the first nations to recognize Maldives independence.

       Since then, India and Maldives have developed close strategic, military, economic and cultural relations.

       Maldivians generally regard Indians and India as a friend and trusted neighbor in the field economic, social and political.

 

Anti-India sentiments:

       ‘India Out’ campaign in Maldives had started sometime last year as on-ground protests in the Maldives and later widely spread across social media platforms under the same hashtag.

       It is not related to people-to-people conflict (Indian diaspora) but is discontent on close relationship between Maldivian government & India.

 

Causes for the Anti-India sentiments:

1. Political instability:

       The anti-India sentiment is nearly a decade old and can be traced back to when Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom became president in 2013.

       He used anti-India sentiments for his political mobilization and started tilting China.

2. Controversy over helicopter gift:

       Two Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopters (ALF) were given by India to the Maldives for ocean search-and-rescue operations.

       Opposition tried to portray this as a military presence in the country.

3. Confidential agreements:

       Most agreements being signed between the Ibrahim Solih government and India are under backdoors and have not been publicly discussed in the Maldives Parliament.

4. Alleged interference in domestic politics:

       India being a big neighbor, there are unsubstantiated perceptions & allegations on Indian Diplomats stationed in Maldives interfering in Domestic affairs.

 

Recent gestures by India:

1. 2014 Male drinking-water crisis:

       In the wake of a drinking water crisis in Male in December 2014, following collapse of the island’s only water treatment plant, Maldives urged India for immediate help.

       India came to rescue by sending its heavy lift transporters like C-17 Globemaster III, Il-76 carrying bottled water.

2. 2020 Covid-19 crisis:

       During the COVID-19 crisis of 2020, India extended help to Maldives in the form of financial, material and logistical support.

       Also, the IAF airlifted 6.2tonnes of essential medicines and hospital consumables to Maldives, as part of ‘Operation Sanjeevani’.

3. Greater Male Connectivity Project:

       India has recently announced the signing of a $500-million infrastructure project for the construction of the Greater Male Connectivity Project (GMCP).

       This infrastructure project, the largest-ever by India in the Maldives, involves the construction of a 6.74-km-long bridge and causeway link.

 

Why is Maldives significant for India?

1. Increasing maritime cooperation:

       As maritime economic activity in the Indian Ocean has risen dramatically in recent decades, the geopolitical competition in the Indian Ocean has intensified.

2. Toll Gate in Indian Ocean:

       It is situated at the hub of commercial sea-lanes running through the Indian Ocean.

       More than 97% of India’s international trade by volume and 75% by value passes through the region.

 

3. Naval cooperation:

       Maldives is an important partner in India’s role as the net security provider in the Indian Ocean Region.

4. Important SAARC member:

       Besides, Maldives is a member of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and the South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation (SASEC).

5. People-to-people contact:

       There is a significant population of Maldivian students in India.

       They are aided by a liberal visa-free regime extended by India. There is also medical tourism.

6. Major destination for tourists:

       Tourism is the mainstay of the Maldivian economy.

       The country is now a major tourist destination for some Indians and a job destination for others.

 

Challenges in India - Maldives Relations:

1. Political Instability:

       India’s major concern has been the impact of political instability in the neighborhood on its security and development.

2. Increasing radicalization:

       In the past decade or so, the number of Maldivians drawn towards terrorist groups like the Islamic State (IS) and Pakistan-based jihadist groups has been increasing.

3. Inclination towards terror:

       Radicalism in the island nation has increased the possibility of Pakistan based terror groups using remote Maldivian islands as a launch pad for terror attacks against India and Indian interests.

4. Chinese affinity:

       China’s strategic footprint in India’s neighborhood has increased. The Maldives has emerged as an important ‘pearl’ in China’s “String of Pearls” construct in South Asia.

 

Agreements signed between India and Maldives:

       The MoU signed on cyber security aims to promote closer cooperation and exchange of information pertaining to cyber security in accordance with our domestic laws, rules and regulation and based on equality, reciprocity and mutual benefit.

       Both sides exchanged agreements covering areas like women and child development, disaster management and infrastructure development.

       Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Solih participated remotely in the pouring of the first concrete of the Greater Male Connectivity Project (GMCP) that would include a 6.74 km bridge and the causeway linking capital Male with the neighboring islands.

       Both sides affirmed their will to strengthen ties to take on “transnational crimes and terrorism” in the Indian Ocean region.

       To strengthen Maldivian maritime capacity, India gifted a second landing assault craft to the Maldives National Defence Force.

       India operationalised Rupay card in Maldives and also works in the areas like fisheries, education, health tourism and disaster resilience infrastructure.

 

Maldives-India relation, goes beyond diplomacy. Our values, our cultures and our histories are intertwined, making it a traditional relationship. Our centuries-old relationship has grown with political trust, economic relation.