Significance of Maldives' President's India Visit

Significance of Maldives’ President’s India Visit

President Mohamed Muizzu of the Maldives attended Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s swearing-in ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Check here Significance of Maldives' President's India Visit.

Table of Contents

Context: President Mohamed Muizzu of the Maldives attended Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s swearing-in ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

India-Maldives Relationship

Maritime Security: The Maldives plays a critical role in India’s maritime security due to its strategic location in the Indian Ocean. It acts as a first line of defence against threats like terrorism, piracy, drug trafficking, and other maritime crimes.
Geographical Proximity: The Maldives is situated southwest of India, making it the closest neighbour at about 70 nautical miles from Minicoy and 300 nautical miles from India’s West coast.
- This close proximity positions the Maldives at the centre of critical commercial sea lanes in the Indian Ocean, crucial for global trade.
Dependency on India: The Maldives heavily relies on India for essential goods and construction materials.
- In 2024, India committed to supplying large quantities of food items and construction materials to the Maldives, underscoring the dependency of the Maldives on Indian exports.

India’s Support to Maldives

Aid History: India has consistently aided the Maldives during crises such as the 2004 tsunami, a 2014 desalination plant failure, and the Covid-19 pandemic, providing essential supplies and support.
1988 Coup: The Indian Army played a key role in thwarting a coup attempt in Malé, a fact that is recognized across Maldivian political parties.

Muizzu’s Political Stance

Election Background: Muizzu was elected on November 17, 2023 with an ‘India Out’ campaign, which started in 2020 as opposition to the pro-India policies of then-President Ibrahim Solih. The campaign opposed the alleged Indian military presence in the Maldives.
Actions Post-Election: Shortly after assuming office, Muizzu demanded the withdrawal of all Indian military personnel.
Military Personnel Withdrawal: By May, the last Indian soldiers, initially stationed to operate gifted aircraft, were replaced by civilians.

Pro-China Tilt

Alignment: Like his mentor, former President Abdulla Yameen, Muizzu has aligned the Maldives with China, marking a shift away from India.
First Foreign Visit: Muizzu chose Beijing over New Delhi for his first official visit abroad, where he met President Xi Jinping and signed 20 agreements.
Military Agreement with China: In March, Malé signed its first-ever military agreement with Beijing to receive free non-lethal military equipment and training.

Recent Developments and Future Prospects

Trade Support: In April, India increased export quotas for essential commodities to the Maldives for 2024-25, under a bilateral mechanism effective since 1981.
Diplomatic Engagements: In May, Maldives Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer met with India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar for discussions on bilateral relations and regional security.
Optimistic Outlook: Post a meeting with Muizzu, Jaishankar expressed a positive outlook for future cooperation between India and the Maldives.