India- Maldives Relations

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  • India established formal diplomatic relations with Maldives after the independence of Maldives from the British rule in 1966.
  • India has been a friend in need of people of Maldives.
  • Operation Cactus was India’s military aid of 1600 soldiers to Maldives to fight the armed attack of the People’s Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam, supported rebel groups in 1988 for an attempted coup.
  • India First Policy of Maldives.
  • Cancelling of GMR contract to construct Male Airport.
  • India provided bottled water through its helicopters to Maldives when its only water treatment plant collapsed in December 2014.
  • In 2016 Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) meeting India prevented countries from executing punitive sanctions due to failure in creating an ‘Inclusive country” and a “Genuine Democracy”.
  • Attack Helicopter (Dhurv) was provided, South Asian Satellite, Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital, Faculty for Engineering and Technology.
  • Integration of Radars for Coastal Surveillance, Joint patrol by Indian Coast Guards in Maldivian waters.
Concerns
  • GMR Controversy.
  • Growing bonding with China – 40% of GDP (2.5 Billion)
    • Free Trade agreement in 2017.
    • Belt and Road Initiative (Makhundoo Islands).
    • 70% of external debt.
  • Indian PM cancelled Maldives visit during Indian Ocean tour.
  • Abdulla Yameen regime and Emergency.
  • Joint Naval Patrol with Pakistan.
  • Return of helicopters and Non-renewal of contracts.
  • Radicalisation of Youth (Saudi Madrasas in Islands).
  • Uninhabited Islands acting as safe house to terrorists.
  • India recently announced $1.4 billion financial assistance to the island nation in a bid to bail out its debt-trapped economy.
  • Backed by India, Maldives recently became Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) Member. Also, it is helping expedite its inclusion in the Commonwealth again
  • Air Bubble, Covid Assistance, Vaccine diplomacy.
  • Greater Male connectivity Project Connecting Male to Vilingili, Thilafushi and Gulifahu Islands.
Way Forward
  • Soft Power Model to counter China.
  • Indian Ocean Islands Specific Policy to emerge as net security provider in the Indian Ocean region.
  • People to people contacts (Diaspora, Medical and Educaiton visas).
  • Cricket Diplomacy.
  • Dornier Aircraft order.
  • Use QUAD for joint cooperation to tackle China.
  • Finish projects on time.
  • Give Access to National Knowledge Network.

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