News Highlights
The Maldives’ President arrived in India for a bilateral visit which boost the India-Maldives Relation
Key Takeaways.
- The president arrived in India for bilateral talks to discuss strategic ties and the status of infrastructure agreements between India and the Maldives.
- Both sides will celebrate the milestones, review existing projects, and set new targets for a stronger India-Maldives partnership.
India-Maldives relations
- India and Maldives share ethnic, linguistic, cultural, religious and multi-dimensional relations.
- India was among the first to recognise the Maldives after its independence in 1965 and to establish diplomatic relations with the country.
- Political relations:
- Bilateral relations have been strengthened by regular contacts at the highest levels.
- On international issues, Maldives had consistently supported India in multilateral fora, such as the United Nations (UN), the Commonwealth, the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).
- The Maldives also co-sponsored the G-4 draft resolutions on UN reforms.
- The G4 nations, comprising Brazil, Germany, India, and Japan, support each other’s bids for permanent seats on the United Nations Security Council.
- Bilateral Trade:
- India and Maldives signed a trade agreement in 1981, which provides for the export of essential commodities.
- India-Maldives bilateral trade crossed the $ 300 million mark for the first time in 2021.
- Indian imports from the Maldives primarily comprise scrap metals.
- While Indian exports to the Maldives include agriculture and poultry produce, sugar, fruits, vegetables, spices, rice etc.
- Strategic and security relations:
- The infrastructure projects include the Greater Male Connectivity Project of bridges, which connects the capital city to neighbouring islands, to be built by an Indian company.
- Maldives is an essential country in India’s SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) initiative for the Indian Ocean region.
- Defence Relation:
- Defence and security cooperation has been a major area of cooperation between India and the Maldives since 1988, landmarked Operation Cactus, an anti-coup operation conducted by the Indian Army to support the Maldivian government.
- Both the parties have signed Mutual Assistance Treaty in the areas of anti-piracy and anti-smuggling operations.
- One of the recent assistance provided by India is Operation Need to supply water to the Maldives.
- Multilateral relations:
- Both are members of the
- South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).
- South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation (SASEC).
- The Commonwealth.
- Hence, both can share their concerns and solve them amicably.
- Both are members of the
- People-to-people relations:
- Around 22000 Indian population are in the Maldives.
- About 25% of The Maldives doctors and teachers are Indians.
Issues and Challenges
- Anti-Indian sentiments -‘India Out’ campaign:
- The “India Out”, a slogan coined by protesters in the Maldives who claimed that the government led by the President had “sold out” the Maldives to India.
- It is a challenge to India-Maldive diplomatic relations.
- Chinese factor in the Maldives:
- The growing Chinese influence in the Maldives, consequent upon the planned- or ongoing execution of a large number of Beijing-led investment projects, is a major concern for India.
- For example, expansion of Velna international airport, housing projects in Male etc.
- Increasing religious fundamentalism in the Maldives:
- Political instability and socio-economic instability are the main drivers fueling the rise of radicalism in the island nation.
- It might penetrate Indian territory and also cause national security issues.
- Unstable politics:
- The Maldives frequently sees periods of democratic decline and the rise of authoritarianism.
- It may impact India’s interests in the Maldives.
Way forward
- Expansion of the “Quad”:
- The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) is a strategic security dialogue between Australia, India, Japan, and the United States maintained by talks between member countries.
- The expansion of the Quad by including the Maldives will further strengthen India’s foot in the Maldives.
- Regular bilateral engagements:
- Bilateral visiting the head of the state regularly will help to talk and resolve bilateral issues amicably.
- Soft-diplomatic power:
- By using India’s soft diplomatic powers, such as Vaccine Maitri, during the COVID Pandemic can help to generate a good perception of India among the Maldives people.
Pic Courtesy: India Today
Content Source: The Hindu