Daily News Analysis » India-maldives Relations

India-maldives Relations

This article will cover detailed information about India-maldives Relations

Why in the News?

Recently, Maldives President Ibrahim Solih visited India and pledged to strengthen bilateral ties, with a major focus on maritime security.

Key Points:

Key Highlights of the Bilateral Meeting:

  • MoU (Memorandum of Understanding): The countries signed six MoUs to expand cooperation in a range of areas in Maldives, including:
      • Cybersecurity
      • Capacity Building
      • Housing
      • Disaster Management
      • Infrastructure Development
    • Defence and Security: Indian government announced to provide a second Landing Assault Craft and a replacement ship for the CGS Huravee.
      • It is an indigenously built Trinkat-class patrol vessel that the Navy gave to the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF).
      • It also announced gifting of 24 utility vehicles from Government of India to Maldives National Defence Force.
      • India’s continuing support for modernisation of MNDF infrastructure and equipment, through grant assistance and the USD 50 mn Line of Credit facility for defense projects.
    • Infrastructure projects:
      • India and the Maldives jointly announced the Greater Malé Connectivity Project (GMCP) and the construction of 4,000 social housing units.
      • India also approved a $119 million buyer’s credit funding from the Exim Bank for the construction of another 2,000 social housing units in the Greater Malé region.
      • The GMCP, which is 6.74 km in length and will connect Malé to Villingli, Gulhifahlu, and Thilahfushi.
      • It is the largest infrastructure project ever undertaken in the Maldives and one of India’s largest projects in the neighbourhood.
  • Development Projects:
    • India will extend an additional $100 million line of credit to the Maldives.

 

  • Medical and financial assistance:
    • The medical and financial assistance from India helped the Maldives overcome the health and economic fallouts of the pandemic.
    • India was the first partner to gift Covid-19 vaccines to Maldives.
  • Environment and Renewable Energy
  • India lauded the ambitious target set by Maldives to become net zero by 2030 and assured full support.
  • Cooperation in Multilateral Forums
    • The leaders agreed on the need for urgent reforms of the UN bodies, particularly the Security Council.
    • Maldives’ support for India’s candidature for permanent membership of an expanded and reformed UN Security Council.

Maldives Government Stand on “India Out” campaign:

  • The Maldives government rejected the “India Out” slogan, and described India as the country’s “closest ally and trusted neighbour”.

India – Maldives Relation:

  • Maldives has a special place in India’s ‘neighbourhood first policy’.
  • India-Maldives resolved the politically contentious issue over Minicoy Island through the Maritime Boundary Treaty of 1976- recognising Minicoy as part of India.
  • Defence and Security: In 2016, India-Maldives signed a Comprehensive Action Plan for Defence. Ekuverin is a major joint military exercise between the Indian and Maldives Army.
    • Maldives is also part of SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region). It was announced by India in 2015 as its vision for the Indian Ocean.
  • Development Cooperation: In 2018, India gave a $1.4 billion economic package to Maldives for its socio-economic development.

Importance of Maldives for India:

  • Maldives is strategically located in the Indian Ocean. It comprises 1200 coral islands lying next to shipping lanes which ensure uninterrupted energy supplies to countries like China, Japan and India.
  • As the pre-eminent South Asian power and a net security provider in the Indian Ocean, India needs to cooperate with Maldives in security and defence sectors.
  • India and Maldives share ethinc, linguistic, cultural, religious and commercial links.

India- Maldives Collaboration:

  • The Greater Male Connectivity Project:
  • The Great Male Connectivity Project includes a 6.7-km-long bridge and causeway network connecting Male, Villingili, Gulhifalhu and Thilafushi Islands.
  • The bridge would connect the islands of Hulhumale, Hulhule and Male with the proposed Gulhifalhu Port and the Thilafushi Industrial Zone.
  • The Project is funded by the Exim Bank of India under the Indian grant of $100 million and Line of Credit of $400 million.
  • The Project will be developed by Maharashtra-based construction and engineering company AFCONS.
  • Operation Sanjeevani: Through Operation Sanjeevani, India delivered 6.2 tonnes of essential medicines and hospital consumables to Maldives during COVID-19 crisis in 2020.
  • In 2014, India dispatched “water aid” to the Maldives, after a fire destroyed the generator of its biggest water treatment plant.

 

Way Forward:

  • Maldives is a member of the SAARC. It is important for India to work on the perception management in Maldives to counterattack the malicious India Out Campaign for securing her strategic objectives.
  • Timely implementation of projects and by extending the Line of Credit(LoC) to Maldives, India can checkmate China’s cheque book diplomacy in the region.