India Maldives Relations

India and the Maldives share a coastline. However, it is not just the proximity of the two countries that has drawn them together. Let’s see some more India Maldives relations UPSC insights.

• Following the Maldives’ independence from the British in 1965, India maintained formal diplomatic relations with the country
• After an outburst of anti-Indian sentiment in the Maldives, the two countries’ friendship has renewed since 2018
• India’s development and infrastructure support have increased in recent years
• President Ibrahim Solih’s win in 2018 reiterated the Maldives’ commitment to ‘India First’ which is complementary to India’s own ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy
• As we will see below, the India Maldives relations insights are far below potential in certain sectors

Historical Relations

• The Maldives’ history is intertwined with that of India
• Rajaraja Chola’s Chola dynasty invaded and conquered the Maldives’ northern atolls
• In the contemporary era, the Maldives became a British colony and attained independence in 1965
• Since then, the nation has been in a state of political unrest
• Ibrahim Nasir was the ruler of the island from 1965-to 1978
• President Abdul Gayoom governed from 1978 to 2008
• Gayoom sowed the seeds of the modern Maldives during his long reign
• Protests and rallies against Gayoom’s rule erupted at regular intervals
• During this period, terrorists affiliated with the PLOTE tried a coup in the Maldives
• It was also known as the People’s Liberation Organization of Tamil Eelam
• They were on their way to victory when the Indian Armed Forces launched ‘Operation Cactus,’ driving the invaders out
• President Ibrahim Solih’s win in 2018, the Maldives’ ‘India First’ policy was finally implemented

Development Assistance and Economic Relations

• Bilateral Trade

In 1981, the two countries inked a trade deal. Despite the deal, bilateral trade is still well below its potential. Bilateral trade in 2018 totalled US$ 288.99 million, a pittance compared to India’s neighbouring countries, particularly Pakistan. India surfaced as Maldives’ 2nd largest trade partner in 2020.

• Humanitarian Aid

During the 2004 Tsunami and the 2014 water crisis, India sent humanitarian aid and disaster relief assistance to the Maldives under Operation Neer.

• Tourism

India is the fifth-largest source of visitors to the Maldives. In 2019, the two countries signed several MoUs to develop the Addu Tourism Zone in the Addu Atoll’s five islands and establish a bottling water facility on Hoarafushi in the northernmost Haa Alif Atoll.

• Medical Tourism

Maldivians are a vital part of India’s medical tourism economy. Maldivian nationals have been granted about 45,355 medical tourist visas out of 4,95,000 granted by India.

• High Impact Community Development Plan

The majority of development projects in the Maldives are carried out under this scheme, which is guided by community needs. This is a key aspect of the two countries’ development collaboration.

• Connectivity

The Greater Male Connectivity Project, which would connect Male to the islands of Villingili, Thilafushi, and Gulhifahu, has been allocated and granted US$ 500 million by India. It is the Maldives’ largest civilian project, frequently compared to China’s Sinemale Friendship Bridge project.

Strategic/Defense Relations

• It is located near India’s western shore, making any foreign power a threat to India’s national security
• The terrorists who carried out the 26/11 attacks reached India via the sea route
• China’s debt-trap diplomacy could lead to the acquisition of islands near the Indian Union Territory of Lakshadweep, posing a threat to India

Defence

India wants to maintain its role as Maldives’ primary security provider.

• Over 70% of the Maldivian Defence Forces’ training needs are met by India (MDF)
• The military forces have been conducting joint exercises known as ‘Ekuverin’ since 2009
• Strategic cooperation includes multilateral cooperation in forums such as the SAARC and SASEC
• The Maldives, which had been suspended from the Commonwealth in 2016, has recently re-joined

Cultural Relations

• Two naval ships were dispatched to the Maldives as part of India’s ‘Vande Bharat’ Mission to rescue Indian nationals from all over the world during the COVID-19 pandemic
• In 2019, PM Narendra Modi received the Maldives’ highest civilian accolade, the Rule of Nishan Izzuddeen

Way Forward

• It is critical to eliminate the current problems between India and Maldives to improve their bilateral trade
• India has to build an independent archipelago foreign policy to work with neighbouring countries methodically
• India should follow the “Neighbourhood First” strategy by the government
• Thus, it would be able to be a development partner dedicated to a peaceful, prosperous and stable Maldives

Conclusion

Maldives and India hold strategic importance to each other. The Maldives has an important role in India’s maritime security owing to its location. The India-Maldives relations are primordial. India has remained an unfaltering ally to the Maldives, which is evident from the numerous times it has come to aid the Maldives like Operation Cactus in 1988, India being the first country to provide humanitarian relief during the 2004 tsunami, providing the country with drinking water during the water crisis of 2014 and uninterrupted medical supplies and vaccine roll-out during COVID-19.

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