India Maldives

India signed 50 million defence agreement with Maldives to boost maritime capability.

Overview of India-Maldives relations

Operation Cactus (1988) Indian Troops prevented a coup in Maldives
India provides training opportunities for Maldivian National Defence Force (MNDF), meeting around 70% of their defence training requirements
Indian Army and MDNF Exercise Ekuverin (‘Friends’) since 2009.

India Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital, Maldives Institute of Technical Education, Construction of National Police Academy etc
Grants for projects under High Impact Community Development Projects (HICDPs): such as ambulances, Convention Centre, drug rehabilitation centre, police station upgradation etc
large-scale assistance in the aftermath of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and during the 2014 Male water crisis under Operation Neer.

Indians are the second largest expatriate community in the Maldives.
India offers scholarships to Maldivian students such as: Indian Council for Cultural Relations scholarships, SAARC Chair Fellowship etc
India Cultural Center (ICC) in Male courses in yoga, classical music and dance. Also, Hindi commercial films, TV serials and music are immensely popular in Maldives
In 2019, Indian PM was conferred Maldives’ highest honour —Rule of Nishan Izzuddeen.

new connectivity measures to help deal with the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic

An “air bubble agreement” for travel, a direct ferry service and a submarine cable for telecom connectivity
US $500 million assistance for the Greater Male Connectivity project (GMCP) to connect Male to three neighbouring islands - Villingili, Thilafushi and Gulhifahu islands.
US $400 million Line of Credit (LoC) in addition to a previous LoC of $800 million of 2018.

close proximity to the west coast of India and its potential to allow a third nation’s naval presence in the area
situated at the hub of commercial sea-lanes running through the Indian Ocean. More than 97% of India’s international trade by volume and 75% by value passes through the region
India’s ambition to be ‘Net-security provider’ in Indian Ocean region calls for close military and naval ties with Maldives so that India protects its own interests as well of its neighbours
China is rapidly expanding its footprint in the Maldives. Thus, it becomes geo-politically and strategically important for India to maintain its presence in Maldives.

Challenges in India-Maldives Relations

Maldives’ reliance on China to develop infrastructure projects and the resulting accumulation of foreign debt— 40 per cent of the country’s GDP- Chinese debt-trap diplomacy
Political instability in Maldives as democracy is yet to take a firm footing will have impact on India’s relations. E.g. in 2012 Maldives announced termination of a USD 511 million project with the Indian infrastructure company GMR Infrastructure Limited.
challenged overall security of the Indian Ocean by increasing radicalisation —over 200 Maldivians reportedly joined the Islamic State —and by the granting of non-transparent permissions for foreign investment.
India’s vote against Maldives in a bid to secure non permanent membership in UNSC in 2018
Concerns of workers denial of work permits as in 2018

Way Forward

enhance regional cooperation by using common platforms such as the Indian Ocean RIM Association and Indian Ocean Naval Symposium.
‘India-First Policy’ of the Maldives and India’s ‘Neighbourhood First Policy’ are intuitively complementary, implementing these policies with strategic sensitivity is of the utmost importance.
Anti terrorism cooperation
Fast track project delivery
Gujral Doctrine for neighbourhood relations

India’s outreach to Indian Ocean Nations during COVID-19 pandemic

India launched Mission Sagar to provide assistance to Indian Ocean Region Nations.

INS Kesari was dispatched for Maldives, Mauritius, Seychelles, Madagascar and Comoros, to provide food Items, COVID related medicines.

in 2015 envisages collective action and cooperation to advance peace and security and respond to emergencies.

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