India Navigating Choppy Waters in Maldives

Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson speaking in a media briefing on October 05 in response to a question highlighted India’s approach to the emerging situation in Maldives.

Bagchi said, “Prime Minister was the first leader to convey greetings and felicitations to the President-elect. Prime Minister conveyed and reaffirmed India's commitment to strengthen the time-tested India-Maldives bilateral relationship and enhancing overall cooperation in the Indian Ocean region. Subsequently yesterday, I think, our High Commissioner in Male also called on the President-elect. He had a good discussion on various aspects of our bilateral partnership, including development cooperation”.

“The focus of our partnership with Maldives has always been on capacity building and working together to address our shared challenges and priorities, you know, including security challenges and priorities. As neighbours, we need to collaborate closely to address these challenges confronting our region, such as transnational crimes as well as HADR, Humanitarian Assistance Disaster Relief situations. We look forward to engaging with the new administration in Maldives on all these issues,” Bagchi added.

India also appears to have accepted the outcome of elections in Maldives even though the verdict was not in favour of the candidate it seemingly supported – the incumbent President Ibu Solih. Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson said, “Let me take the opportunity to congratulate the Maldivian people for once again demonstrating their faith in democratic governance and constitutional processes that reflect their firm commitment to the values of democracy and the rule of law”.

Ministry of External Affairs Brief on India Maldives relations outlines the importance of Maldives to regional security. The Brief states, "Maldives’ proximity to the west coast of India (barely 70 nautical miles away from Minicoy and 300 nautical miles away from India’s West coast), and its situation at the hub of commercial sea-lanes running through Indian Ocean (particularly the 8° N and 1 ½° N channels) imbues it with significant strategic importance to India".

Possibly for the same reason, China as well as Pakistan are seeking more political and security space in Maldives. The election of a party and leadership that is openly anti India thus may have been welcomed in Beijing as well as Islamabadl.

Chinese President Xi Jinping congratulated Dr. Mohamed Muizzu on winning the Maldives presidential election, expressing keenness in deepening the age-old ties between Maldives and China.

“I'm ready to work with you to carry forward the traditional friendship and deepen practical cooperation so as to promote China-Maldives future-oriented all-round friendly and cooperative partnership with more progress,” he said as per Sunonline.

Importantly possibly to maintain balance, Muizzu had the first diplomatic meeting with the British High Commissioner Caron Röhsler.