On India-Maldives relations – Maldives: From a beach resort to a worry spot

Source: This post on India-Maldives relations has been created based on the article “Maldives: From a beach resort to a worry spot” published in “Live Mint” on 8^th December 2023.

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 2 International Relations – India and its neighborhood – relations.

News: The article discusses the changing dynamics of India-Maldives bilateral relations. It also highlights China’s rising influence in India’s neighbourhood.

A detailed article on India-Maldives Relations can be read here.

How is China increasing its influence in India’s neighbourhood?

China, in the form of aid for infrastructure (Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)) has pursued debt-trap diplomacy, including in India’s neighbourhood. For instance:

1. Afghanistan: Chinese-Aghan ties have grown lately.
2. Bhutan: China is in border-settlement talks with Bhutan.
3. Sri Lanka: Sri Lanka had to hand control of its Hambantota Port over to a state-owned Chinese firm on a 99-year lease due to non-payment of BRI dues.
4. Pakistan: The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) aims to link China with Pakistan’s Gwadar Port for trade movement.
5. Maldives: Under an earlier regime, Maldives had joined the BRI and signed a free-trade pact with China.
   However, an agreement on a Chinese post to monitor sea-lanes was not reached after governments changed.

What are the changing dynamics of India-Maldives relations?

1. After taking charge as the President of Maldives, Mohamed Muizzu asked India to withdraw its military personnel from the country.
2. Maldives President’s official tour of Turkey broke the tradition of the new leader’s first visit being to India. This signals a desire to break away from India’s sphere of influence.

What are the issues arising due to these changing dynamics?

1. Increasing Chinese Influence: The worry is that Maldives could get became a part of China’s ‘string of pearls’ surrounding India with bases.
   Access to the Arabian Sea could conceivably permit China to project hard power in the region.

Source: forte.jor.br

2. Turkey’s Increasing Role: Turkey hasn’t been friendly towards India. At the same, it has also grown closer to China.

What should India do?

India reportedly agreed to set up a “core group” on ties that would also look into the matter of troop withdrawal.

In the future, India will have to present significant benefits to Maldives to maintain its alignment with India’s interests. Similarly, practical packages like this should also be developed for other South Asian countries.

Question for practice:

China’s growing influence in India’s neighbourhood is a threat to India’s aspirations as a strong regional power. Explain in the context of India-Maldives relations.