{"id":20452,"date":"2024-01-11T19:17:07","date_gmt":"2024-01-11T13:47:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/?p=20452"},"modified":"2024-01-11T22:17:44","modified_gmt":"2024-01-11T16:47:44","slug":"india-maldives-relations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/editorial-analysis\/11-01-2024\/india-maldives-relations","title":{"rendered":"India-Maldives Relations"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS2\/International Relations<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">In Context:\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Maldives and China signed 20 agreements<\/strong> after the Muizzu-Xi meeting<strong> amid a diplomatic row with India.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">About<\/span>:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Chinese President with his Maldivian counterpart signed <strong>20 &#8220;key&#8221; agreements,<\/strong> including on <strong>tourism cooperation<\/strong>, <strong>disaster risk reduction and the blue economy.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It also announced the elevation of their bilateral ties to a <strong>comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Recent Maldives-India Row:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The latest trigger has been <strong>undiplomatic words used by ministers in Maldives<\/strong> against Prime Minister Narendra Modi in particular and Indians in general.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The new government led by President Mohamed Muizzu <strong>asked India to withdraw military personnel<\/strong> and <strong>chose China for one of his first overseas visits<\/strong>.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Maldives President Muizzu in his visit also <strong>urges China to reclaim top spot in tourist arrivals<\/strong> which was dominated by India in the last few years.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh7-us.googleusercontent.com\/cUoPgdvRefL8Rxo8MEG3NsuHG6ztWDWvRNBUhtllFbYOma3Uw5mb7ygNBq50N5gWNa9HNIlddk4KGONjOWm5jJsSxgjRbGkRp0rGPKvpQchk6nDrSHN5WbMfhdb55WjOHyU0qjYghA8AmRrk0-cq0UQ\" alt=\"\" style=\"width:527px;height:auto\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The incumbent government rode to power on an <strong>\u2018India Out\u2019 poll campaign.<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The release of a report by the <strong>EU Election Observation Mission of Maldives<\/strong> said, the ruling coalition in Maldives <strong>deployed anti-Indian sentiments and attempted to spread disinformation in the 2023 presidential elections<\/strong> in which Mr. Muizzu won.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Maldives has also decided <strong>not to renew<\/strong><strong>the agreement with India on a hydrographic survey<\/strong> of its waters.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The agreement, signed in 2019, <strong>allowed India to conduct a hydrographic survey of the Maldivian territorial waters<\/strong>, study and chart reefs, lagoons, coastlines, ocean currents and tide levels.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Evolution of India and Maldives Relations<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The <strong>relationship between India and the Maldives<\/strong> has evolved over the years, influenced by <strong>geopolitical, economic, and strategic considerations.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Early Diplomatic Ties (1965-1978): <\/strong>The Maldives gained independence from the British<strong> in 1965,<\/strong> and established diplomatic relations with India.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>India was one of the first countries to recognize the Maldives as an independent nation.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Strategic Partnership (1978-1988):<\/strong> The signing of the <strong>Maritime Boundary Agreement in 1979<\/strong> helped define the maritime boundaries between the two countries.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Political Turbulence (1988-2008):<\/strong> The relationship faced challenges in <strong>1988<\/strong> when a <strong>coup attempt in the Maldives<\/strong> led to the intervention of Indian forces in <strong>Operation Cactus.&nbsp;<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>India&#8217;s military intervention was aimed at thwarting the coup and preserving the Maldives&#8217; political stability.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>This event <strong>temporarily strained diplomatic relations<\/strong> but was later resolved.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Normalization and Economic Cooperation (2008-2013): <\/strong>In 2008, the Maldives experienced a peaceful political transition, and Mohamed Nasheed became the President.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The relationship between India and the Maldives improved, focusing on <strong>economic cooperation, trade, and people-to-people ties.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>India provided developmental assistance to the Maldives, particularly in infrastructure projects and capacity building.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Period of Strain (2013-2018):<\/strong> The relationship <strong>faced challenges<\/strong> during the presidency of Abdulla Yameen, with concerns over issues such as democratic backsliding, human rights, and a perceived <strong>tilt towards China.&nbsp;<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Maldives&#8217; growing engagement with China, including infrastructure projects under the <strong>Belt and Road Initiative,<\/strong> raised strategic concerns for India.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Renewed Engagement (2018 Onward)<\/strong>: The<strong> election of Ibrahim Mohamed Solih <\/strong>as the President of the Maldives in 2018 marked a <strong>shift in bilateral relations. <\/strong>There was a renewed emphasis on strengthening ties with India.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The two countries reaffirmed their commitment to democratic values, and India extended financial assistance for various developmental projects.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Significance of Maldives for India:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Location:<\/strong> Maldives\u2019 proximity to the west coast of India (barely 70 nautical miles from Minicoy and 300 nautical miles from India\u2019s West coast).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh7-us.googleusercontent.com\/Qthh-vt0sXLDAYOesUQRJQwaoCHjXFsr4Dt6q1erWjb0YaP_hVlLo3NGKHWbstwxYGUpGioPLEw4-VDDsRcW2-8PCkTF204ccug48CI1dMdepKeCATHwmG6eAZxY-q4naqWInpgBBC5Ec8vSIzj67m4\" alt=\"\" style=\"width:576px;height:auto\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Trade Route: <\/strong>Situated along <strong>crucial maritime trade routes<\/strong> between the Gulf of Aden and the Strait of Malacca, the <strong>Maldives acts as a &#8220;toll gate&#8221; for nearly half of India&#8217;s external trade and 80% of its energy imports.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Strategic Importance:<\/strong> The Maldives is strategically located in the Indian Ocean, and its stability and security are of interest to India.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Counterbalancing China: <\/strong>Maldives presents an opportunity for India to counterbalance China&#8217;s growing influence in the Indian Ocean, fostering regional balance of power.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Economic partnership:<\/strong> India is one of the biggest investors and tourism markets for the Maldives, with significant trade and infrastructure projects underway.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Defence: <\/strong><strong>Defense and Security Cooperation: Since 1988,<\/strong> defence and security has been a major area of cooperation between India and Maldives.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A <strong>comprehensive Action Plan for Defence<\/strong> was also signed in <strong>2016<\/strong> to consolidate defence partnership.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Estimates suggest that almost <strong>70 per cent of Maldives\u2019 defence training is done by India <\/strong>\u2014 either on the islands or in India\u2019s elite military academies.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Significance of India for Maldives:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Essential Commodities:<\/strong> India supplies Maldives with its everyday essentials: rice, spices, fruits, vegetables, poultry, medicines and life-saving drugs.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Education: <\/strong>Every year, Maldivian students come to Indian higher educational institutions.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Economic dependence:<\/strong> Of the Rs 50 crore total trade between India and Maldives in 2022, <strong>Rs 49 crore was India\u2019s exports to Maldives. <\/strong>India emerged as Maldives\u2019 second largest trade partner in 2022.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Disaster Relief Assistance: <\/strong>When a tsunami struck the islands in 2004, India was the first to send in help.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>In 2014 Male had a drinking water crisis<\/strong> as the major desalination plant broke down, India overnight airlifted drinking water to the islands.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>During the Covid-19 pandemic<\/strong>, India sent essential medicines, masks, gloves, PPE kits and vaccines for the island country.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Challenges<\/span>:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Political Instability<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Domestic turmoil in the Maldives:<\/strong> Recent political upheavals and changes in government can create uncertainty and complicate long-term cooperation projects.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Chinese Influence<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Economic and infrastructure investments:<\/strong> China&#8217;s growing economic presence in the Maldives, evidenced by investments in infrastructure projects and debt-trap diplomacy, can be perceived as a challenge to India&#8217;s strategic interests in the region.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Military ambitions:<\/strong> Chinese naval expansion and potential military ambitions in the Indian Ocean with the active support from Maldives can&nbsp; raise concerns for India.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Security Concerns:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Non-traditional threats:<\/strong> Piracy, terrorism, and drug trafficking remain concerns in the region, requiring continuous collaboration and intelligence sharing between India and the Maldives.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Extremism and radicalization: <\/strong>The Maldives&#8217; vulnerability to religious extremism and radicalization poses a security threat that necessitates joint efforts in countering such ideologies.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Economic and Environmental Concerns:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Trade imbalance:<\/strong> The significant trade imbalance between India and the Maldives could lead to resentment and calls for diversifying trade partnerships.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Impact of climate change:<\/strong> Both nations are highly vulnerable to climate change and rising sea levels, requiring coordinated efforts for adaptation and environmental protection.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Overcoming the challenges:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Open and transparent communication:<\/strong> Regular dialogue at all levels can address concerns and build trust.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Focus on common interests:<\/strong> Prioritizing areas like maritime security, climate change, and economic development can solidify the foundation of the partnership.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Respect for sovereignty and non-interference:<\/strong> Both countries must respect each other&#8217;s internal affairs and avoid interference in domestic politics.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Strengthening people-to-people ties:<\/strong> Cultural exchange programs and educational collaborations can foster deeper understanding and empathy.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Addressing internal issues:<\/strong> Both India and the Maldives need to address domestic challenges like corruption and instability to project a positive image and foster a stable partnership.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Way Ahead:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The evolution of India-Maldives relations reflects a combination of geopolitical dynamics, changes in leadership, and shared regional interests.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>India is steadfast in its commitments towards Maldives and <strong>has always walked the extra mile<\/strong> towards building relations.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Any impulsive steps to undo the carefully nurtured all encompassing partnership is <strong>likely to harm Maldives more than it would India.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>By acknowledging and addressing these challenges, India and the Maldives can <strong>navigate the complexities of their relationship and build a stronger, more resilient, and mutually beneficial partnership<\/strong> for the future.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/international\/maldives-china-sign-20-agreements-after-muizzu-xi-meeting-amid-diplomatic-row-with-india\/article67728474.ece#:~:text=Chinese%20President%20Xi%20Jinping%20on,a%20comprehensive%20strategic%20cooperative%20partnership\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>TH<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-background\" style=\"background-color:#ebecf0\"><tbody><tr><td><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Mains Practice Question<\/strong><br><\/span><strong>[Q]<\/strong> Anti India-sentiments along with deep Chinese presence in Maldives is a cause of concern for India. Discuss the measures India needs to take to regain the ground in Maldives? [15 MArks, 250 Words]<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Daily-Editorial-Analysis-11-01-2024.pdf\">Download PDF<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Syllabus: GS2\/International Relations In Context:\u00a0 About: Recent Maldives-India Row: Evolution of India and Maldives Relations Significance of Maldives for India: Significance of India for Maldives: Challenges: Political Instability Chinese Influence Security Concerns: Economic and Environmental Concerns: Overcoming the challenges: Way Ahead: Source: TH Mains Practice Question[Q] Anti India-sentiments along with deep Chinese presence in Maldives [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-20452","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-editorial-analysis"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20452","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=20452"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20452\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":20479,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20452\/revisions\/20479"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=20452"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=20452"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=20452"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}