Editorial: Resetting India-Maldives ties

The Maldivian leadership appears to have realised that a good relationship with New Delhi is an absolute necessity for their country

From peddling a jingoistic “India Out” campaign to embracing pragmatism and treating the neighbour with extraordinary warmth, the Maldives has come a long way. Mohamed Muizzu, president of the tiny island nation who had whipped up anti-India passions in the 2023 elections, is now a changed man, effusive in his praise for India and eager to make course corrections and strengthen bilateral relations. The recent two-day state visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, marked by bonhomie and the signing of significant bilateral agreements, gave ample indications of Male’s keenness to reset the ties that came under strain last year. After being caught in a storm briefly, the bilateral journey is now back on a smooth sailing. It required some deft navigation from both sides to overcome the tempest. The traditional warmth and mutual appreciation have returned as the strained ties have been repaired. The Maldivian leadership appears to have realised that a good relationship with New Delhi is an absolute necessity for their country. In fact, India is a lifeline for the Maldives from geographic, strategic and economic angles and has always stood by it in times of crisis. A significant highlight of Modi’s visit was the extension of a Rs 4,850-crore line of credit and restructuring of existing debt, reducing the Maldives’ repayment obligations. The visit also included signing Memoranda of Understanding across various sectors and the launch of joint initiatives. The line of credit represents a continuation of the tradition of assistance to the development needs of the Maldives.

As a result, several infrastructure projects are expected to be taken up in the country. The two sides also sealed six pacts in the fields of fisheries and aquaculture, meteorology, digital public infrastructure, UPI and Indian pharmacopoeia. Muizzu appreciated India’s pivotal role in supporting the Maldives to manage its economic challenges. For someone who had campaigned on an anti-India plank in the elections and was seen as a pro-China leader, it was a spectacular U-turn for Muizzu when he spoke about how India was a valued partner and an all-weather friend and how the bilateral relationship was built on mutual respect. Last year, an unsavoury saga had created unease in the bilateral relations when three Maldivian ministers – Mariyam Shiuna, Malsha Sharif and Hassan Zihan – made “derogatory remarks” targeting Narendra Modi following his visit to Lakshadweep to promote domestic tourism. They were subsequently sacked. The ties were further strained after Muizzu set a May 10 deadline for Indian military personnel to leave his country. Tourism, the backbone of the Maldivian economy, took a severe beating as the anti-India remarks, amplified by social media posts, triggered angry reactions from India, with many people cancelling their plans to visit the popular tourist destination. This led to a sharp dip in the flow of tourists from India. However, all the rancour now appears to be a thing of the past.

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