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India- Maldives Relations

India- Maldives Relations

  • Recently, Maldives celebrated their 554th republic day on November 9th, 2021.

History :

  • India established formal diplomatic relations with Maldives after the independence of Maldives from the British rule in 1966
  • India and Maldives officially settled their maritime boundary in 1976
  • Both the countries signed a trade agreement in 1981
  • Operation Cactus was India’s military aid of 1600 soldiers to Maldives to fight the armed attack of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in the year in 1988
  • India has provided liberal economic aid and cooperated with Maldives for improving its Infrastructure

Geo-Strategic Importance of Maldives to India

  • Despite being the smallest Asian country with a land area, Maldives is one of the world’s most geographically dispersed countries straddling a 960-km-long submarine ridge running north to south and which forms a wall in the middle of the Indian Ocean. Its strategic location defines the geo-strategic importance of Maldives far beyond its physical size, which can be reflected as the following:

  • Maldives, a Toll Gate in Indian Ocean: Located at the southern and northern parts of this island chain lies the two important sea lanes of communication (SLOCs).

  • These SLOCs are critical for maritime trade flow between the Gulf of Aden and Gulf of Hormuz in West Asia and the Strait of Malacca in Southeast Asia.

  • While the Indian Ocean is considered as the key highway for global trade and energy flow, Maldives virtually stands as a toll gate.

  • While SLOCs in the vicinity of the Maldives have broader strategic significance for global maritime trade, these are of vital importance for India since nearly 50% of India’s external trade and 80% of her energy imports transit these westward SLOCs in the Arabian Sea.

  • Increasing Maritime Activity: As maritime economic activity in the Indian Ocean has risen dramatically in recent decades, the geopolitical competition too in the Indian Ocean has intensified.

  • Due to this, China’s strategic interests and logistical limitations in the Indian Ocean have prompted it to increase its presence in the Indian Ocean.

  • India’s Strategic Priority: A favourable and positive maritime environment in the Indian Ocean is essential for the fulfilment of India’s Strategic priority.

  • Thus, India continuously aims at promoting an ever-expanding area of peace and stability around it.

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

Cooperation Between India & Maldives

  • Security Cooperation: Through the decades, India has rushed emergency assistance to the Maldives, whenever sought.

  • In 1988, when armed mercenaries attempted a coup against President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, India sent paratroopers and Navy vessels and restored the legitimate leadership under Operation Cactus.

  • Further, joint naval exercises have been conducted in the Indian ocean and India still contributes to the security of the maritime island.

  • Disaster Management: The 2004 tsunami and the drinking water crisis in Male a decade later were other occasions when India rushed assistance.

  • At the peak of the continuing COVID-19 disruption, the Maldives has been the biggest beneficiary of the Covid-19 assistance given by India among its all of India’s neighbouring countries.

  • When the world supply chains were blocked because of the pandemic, India continued to provide crucial commodities to the Maldives under Mission SAGAR.

  • People To People Contact: Technology has made connectivity easier for everyday contact and exchanges. Maldivian students attend educational institutions in India and patients fly here for superspeciality healthcare, aided by a liberal visa-free regime extended by India.

  • Economic Cooperation: Tourism is the mainstay of Maldivian economy. The country is now a major tourist destination for some Indians and a job destination for others.

  • Given the geographical limitations imposed on the Maldives, India has exempted the nation from export curbs on essential commodities.

Irritants in Relations

  • Political Instability: India’s major concern has been the impact of political instability in the neighbourhood on its security and development.

  • The February 2015 arrest of opposition leader Mohamed Nasheed on terrorism charges and the consequent political crisis have posed a real diplomatic test for India’s neighbourhood policy.

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

  • Political instability and socio-economic uncertainty are the main drivers fuelling the rise of Islamist radicalism in the island nation.

  • Events in West Asia, Afghanistan and Pakistan have also influenced Maldivian radicalisation.

  • This gives rise to the possibility of Pakistan based terror groups using remote Maldivian islands as a launch pad for terror attacks against India and Indian interests.

  • Further, India's concern is regarding how radical Islamist forces have been gaining political influence in the neighbourhood.

  • China Angle: China’s strategic footprint in India’s neighbourhood has increased. The Maldives has emerged as an important 'pearl' in China’s “String of Pearls” construct in South Asia.

  • Given the Maldives's strategic location in the Indian Ocean, there are speculations about China trying to develop strategic bases in the archipelago.

  • Given the uncertain dynamics of Sino-Indian relation, China’s potential strategic presence in Maldives remains a concern.

  • Also, the Maldives have started using the China card to bargain with India.

Greater Male Connectivity Project:

  • It is the largest civilian infrastructure project in the Maldives. The project will connect the Maldives’ capital Male with three islands:

  • Villingili

  • Gulhifalhu

  • Thilafushi

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