Visit of India’s External Affairs Minister to Maldives

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In order to further expand bilateral engagement with key maritime neighbour of India, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar visited Maldives recently.
This visit also assumes significance as the presidential election in Maldives is to be held on September 9 this year.

Image caption: Location of Maldives

Maldives is barely 70 nautical miles away from Minicoy and 300 nautical miles away from India’s West coast.
It is situated at the hub of commercial sea‐lanes running through Indian Ocean (particularly the 8° N and 1 ½° N channels).
It has potential to allow a third nation’s naval presence in the area.

Securing sea lanes of communication; Fighting piracy and sea-based terrorism;
Countering China’s string of pearls policy;
Making Indian Ocean a conflict free zone and restoring its status as sea of tranquil;
Exploring blue economy and Enhancing trade; Security of Indian expatriates working there;

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.

In the past, the number of Maldivians drawn towards terrorist groups like the Islamic State (IS) had increased.
Political instability and socio-economic uncertainty are further fuelling the rise of Islamist radicalism in the island nation.
This gives rise to the possibility of remote Maldivian islands being used as a launch pad for terror attacks against India and Indian interests.

Recently, External Affairs minister S Jaishankar visited Maldives and held talks with the top leadership in the country.

India and Maldives signed pacts on development projects
- The pact included grant assistance of 100 million Rufiyaa [currency of Maldives] for the High Impact Community Development Project (HICDP) scheme.
- A number of socio-economic development projects are planned to be implemented throughout the country under this funding.
- It also included the development of a sports complex in Gahdhoo, and academic collaboration between Maldives National University and Cochin University of Science and Technology.

Indian Minister handed over two sea ambulances to the Maldives Defence Ministry.

EAM participated in the groundbreaking ceremony of an international airport being developed by India at Hanimadhoo in Haaa Dahaalu atoll.
The airport is the second biggest infra project that India has begun in recent months after the $500-million Greater Male Connectivity project.
- Greater Male Connectivity project aims to link the Maldives capital to three neighbouring highlands with a 6.74-k bridge and causeway over the sea.

Presidential Election in Maldives
- Maldives is scheduled to undergo a Presidential election on September 9 this year.
- Relations between India and the Maldives have improved dramatically since 2018, when Solih defeated Abdulla Yameen.
  - Yameen was president from 2013 to 2018 and during his tenure, Maldives foreign policy had seen a pronounced pro-China tilt.
  - Also, last year, he ran an anti-India campaign alleging that the MDP government has sold out to India.
Although, India has not overtly expressed its preference for the polls, it wants a favourable government in Maldives.
- From the Indian point of view, Solih is a sober, steady pair of hands at the helm, in a country crucial to its interests in the Indian Ocean.

Current President Ibrahim Solih has announced he will run for a second term.
However, his candidature has been opposed within his party by former president and leader of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) Mohamed Nasheed.
For Delhi, the feuding in the MDP is bad news as this will give more space to the opposition party.

In the past five years, Delhi’s Neighbourhood First and SAGAR policies have found expression in the improvement of ties.
Maldives is part of the India-driven Colombo Security Conclave (CSC).
- The CSC was formed in 2011 as a trilateral maritime security grouping of India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives.
- The conclave aims to increase the security cooperation, covering marine safety and security, human trafficking, counter-terrorism, and cyber security.
- A permanent Secretariat was established in Colombo.
However, recently, Maldives saw rise in anti-India sentiments in the form of India Out campaign.
- This campaign alleged that the cooperation between the governments of the two countries is undermining the national security and sovereignty of the Maldives.
- Hence, the recent visit of EAM gives out the message that India is a committed partner in the Maldives’s journey of progress and transformation.