India-Maldives Relations

Pillars of Relationship

• India’s policy of ‘Neighbourhood First’ and the Maldives’ policy of ‘India First’ appear to be perfectly coordinated with one another.
• Security Cooperation: Maldives relies heavily on trilateral maritime security cooperation with India and Sri Lanka.
• Military Cooperation: India has donated Landing Assault Craft and 24 Utility Vehicles to Maldives in order to bolster maritime security
• Economic Cooperation: India and the Maldives have also signed multiple bilateral agreements in recent years, including US$ 500 million in grants and financing to support maritime connectivity, a US$ 800-million line of credit from the Export-Import Bank of India, and an agreement on exchanging information on the movement of commercial maritime vessels.
• Infrastructure Cooperation: India is the partner for the ambitious Greater Male Connectivity Project. This is one the largest project infrastructure project in Maldives.

Challenges

• Political: The incumbent President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has a very prominent pro-Indian approach, while political opposition under former President Abdulla Yameen is seen as anti-India. Abdulla Yameen had allotted lot of development projects to China during his tenure, Abdulla Yameen also led the ‘India Out’ campaign. He is opposed to India’s military presence in Maldives.
• Radicalisation: A large number of Maldive citizens had joined violent extremist organisations such as the Islamic State (IS).
• Chinese Influence: China has enhanced its influence in Maldives (and in Indian Ocean). Maldives is an essential ‘pearl’ in China’s ‘String of Pearls’ initiative in South Asia.

Way Forward

India should enhance economic, cultural and security cooperation with Maldives. However with respect to China’s influence and major infrastructure development, India should encourage investment in ports and maritime development of Maldives.