{"id":343176,"date":"2025-07-21T17:15:34","date_gmt":"2025-07-21T11:45:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/?p=343176"},"modified":"2025-07-23T11:18:40","modified_gmt":"2025-07-23T05:48:40","slug":"india-maldives-relations-significance-and-challenges-explained-pointwise","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/india-maldives-relations-significance-and-challenges-explained-pointwise\/","title":{"rendered":"India-Maldives Relations- Significance and Challenges- Explained Pointwise"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"India-Maldives<\/p>\n

Indian Prime Minister, Mr. Modi, will be the guest of honour at the Maldives’ Independence Day celebrations on 26 July. This will be Mr. Modi’s first trip to the island nation after the change in the leadership there. <\/span>In the recent past, India-Maldives relations had become a major challenge for India’s foreign policy establishment. India-Maldives Relations<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
Table of Content<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
What is the Historical Background of India-Maldives Relations?<\/a>
\nWhat is the ‘India out’ Campaign and ‘India First’ Policy?<\/a>
\nWhat is the significance of Maldives for India?<\/a>
\nWhat have been the areas of Co-operation between India and Maldives?<\/a>
\nWhat are the Challenges in India-Maldives Relations?<\/a>
\nWhat Should be the Way forward for India-Maldives Relations?<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

<\/a>What is the Historical Background of India-Maldives Relations?<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

India and Maldives share ethnic, linguistic, cultural, religious, and commercial connections that date back to ancient times. The name Maldives is believed to be of Sanskrit origin (Mala<\/strong> (garland) + Dweep<\/strong> (Island)). The islands are believed to have been inhabited as early as 5th century BC by settlers from Sri Lanka and Southern India. There were close trade relationships between India and Maldives during ancient and medieval times.<\/span><\/p>\n

Historical Evolution of India-Maldives Relations:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
1965<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nIn 1965, Maldives gained Independence from the British. India was one of the first<\/span> countries to establish diplomatic relations<\/span> with Maldives. Indian Mission<\/span> was set up in Male in 1972.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1978<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nIn 1978, President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom<\/span> took charge in Maldives. Gayoom made many visits to India which strengthened India-Maldives ties. <\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1988<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nIn 1988, India sent its troops and ships to help Gayoom overthrow a coup attempt<\/span> by a Maldives businessman and Sri Lankan Tamil fighters.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2008<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nIn 2008, Mohamed Nasheed<\/span> was elected President. During his tenure, India began closer security cooperation<\/span> with Maldives. India loaned 2 helicopters, dornier aircraft and patrol boats to Maldives. These were for maritime reconnaissance, surveillance and coast guard security ops.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2013<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nIn 2013, Abdulla Yameen<\/span> of the opposition PPM was elected to power. The Presidential Period of Yameen saw major strains in the India-Maldives ties<\/span>.\u00a0India raised objections to Yameen’s imposition of emergency. Yameen adopted pro-China policies<\/span>.\u00a0Yameen signed FTA with China & invited Chinese companies in for a number of major investments including the Hullumale island housing projects<\/strong> and friendship bridge<\/strong>. On the other hand Yameen threatened to evict Indian pilots and personnel from Maldives.\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2018<\/strong><\/td>\nIn 2018, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih<\/span> won the presidential elections by defeating Yameen. He adopted India-First Policy<\/span>. India was invited to start many infrastructure projects including the $500mn Greater Male Connectivity Project<\/strong><\/span>. In 2021, India-Maldives signed the Uthuru Thilafalhu project<\/span> to maintain a coastguard harbour base for India. This sparked the India Out campaign<\/span>.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

<\/h3>\n

<\/a>What is the ‘India out’ Campaign and ‘India First’ Policy?<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
India Out Campaign<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n\u2018India Out\u2019 campaign: <\/strong>It is a political movement<\/span> to mobilise people in\u00a0 Maldives against India<\/span>. The campaign is against the presence of Indian military<\/span> on Maldivian soil. The campaign got louder around key bilateral developments such as the signing of the Uthuru Thila Falhu (UTF) harbour development deal<\/span> with India in February 2021 & India’s announcement of the opening of a consulate in the southern Addu Atoll<\/span>.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Supporters of the Campaign:<\/strong>\u00a0Abdulla Yameen<\/strong><\/span> who was the President of Maldives from 2013-2018 joined the campaign. Yameen was Pro-China during his tenure. Yameen signed FTA with China and gave ultimatum to India to withdraw two Indian helicopters from the strategically important Laamu and Addu atolls. The current president Dr. Mohamed Muizzu<\/strong>\u00a0rallied support around the ‘India Out’ campaign.<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
India First Policy<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nIndia First Policy:<\/strong> Maldives preference for India as the first choice in security partnership, socio-development assistance and COVID response (Vaccines).<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Proponent of the Policy: I<\/span>brahim Mohamed Solih<\/span><\/strong> after he became the president in 2018 adopted the India First Policy. This Policy aimed to reverse the anti-India policies of Yameen between 2013-2018.\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

<\/a>What is the Significance of Maldives for India?<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

Maldives holds enormous significance for India. The Significance of Maldives for India is mentioned below-<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Geo-Economic Significance: <\/strong>Maldives is strategically located at the crossroads of several important trade routes that run through the Indian Ocean. 50% of India\u2019s external trade<\/span> and 80% of India’s energy<\/span> imports transit through<\/span> the Sea lanes of communication (SLOCs) in the vicinity of the Maldives<\/span>. <\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Geo-Political Significance: <\/span><\/strong>Maldives has been a partner of India in many regional groupings. Maldives is a member of the Colombo Security Conclave (CSC)<\/span>, Indian Ocean Rim Association<\/span> (IORA), SAARC<\/span>, SASEC<\/span> and SAGAR<\/span> initiative of India. Maldives supports India\u2019s permanent membership of UNSC.<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. Security Significance: <\/span><\/strong>For India, Maldives is the first line of defence<\/span> against terrorism, piracy on the high seas, drug trafficking, narcotics, and other maritime crime. Maldives geographical location makes it a \u2018toll gate\u2019<\/span> between the choke points of the western Indian Ocean (Gulf of Aden and the Strait of Hormuz) and the eastern Indian Ocean (Strait of Malacca).<\/span><\/li>\n
  4. Indian Diaspora Significance:<\/strong> There is a sizeable Indian diaspora in Maldives. Numerous <\/span>Indians are employed<\/span> in\u00a0 Maldives\u2019 education, medical care systems, tourism and hospitality sector.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    Read More- 7 PM Archives<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

    <\/a>What have been the areas of Co-operation between India and Maldives?<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

    India has been a major partner of Maldives in its development journey. The major areas of cooperation between India and Maldives are mentioned below-<\/span><\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Economic Cooperation:<\/strong> The economic cooperation between India and Maldives is a major pillar of cooperation between India and Maldives. Mentioned below are some of the economic cooperation pillars:<\/span>\n
        \n
      1. $500 million<\/span> in grants and financing to support maritime connectivity.<\/span><\/li>\n
      2. $800 million line of credit<\/span> from the Export-Import Bank of India.<\/span><\/li>\n
      3. India is Maldives\u2019 2nd largest trading partner<\/span>.
        \n<\/span><\/li>\n
      4. Maldives is an important tourist destination for many Indians. Tourism is the backbone of Maldives economy.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n
      5. Infrastructure Cooperation:<\/strong> Development of sustainable infrastructure in Maldives is one of the main goals of India. India is developing many infrastructure projects in Maldives some of which are mentioned below:
        \n<\/span><\/p>\n
          \n
        1. India is developing the Greater Male Connectivity Project<\/strong>– <\/span>one the largest project infrastructure project in Maldives. The project aims to connect Male to Villingili, Gulhifalhu and Thilafushi islands<\/span> through a series of bridges, causeways and roads. The project is crucial for the proposed Gulhifalhu Port. It will be a major catalyst for the Maldivian economy in the future<\/span> through jobs and economic activity.
          \n<\/span><\/li>\n
        2. India is undertaking Airport Redevelopment Project at the Hanimaadhoo International Airport<\/span>.
          \n<\/span><\/li>\n
        3. India is undertaking the development of strategic harbour projects like Uthuru Thila Falhu Project(UTF)<\/span>. It will serve as a harbour for the coast guard of the Maldives National Defence Force
          \n<\/span><\/li>\n
        4. India has also undertaken the design and construction of 61 police infrastructure across Maldives<\/span>. This will contribute to improved access to policing and will ensure the safety and security of the communities in the islands.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n
        5. Military and Security Cooperation:<\/strong> Maldives relies heavily on trilateral maritime security cooperation with India and Sri Lanka. Hence securing the maritime borders of Maldives is one of the foremost priorities of Indian Government. The major areas of Military and security co-operation are as follows:
          \n<\/span><\/p>\n
            \n
          1. India and Maldives cooperate in maritime security<\/span>, maritime domain awareness and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations.
            \n<\/span><\/li>\n
          2. India has donated Landing Assault Craft<\/strong> and 24 Utility Vehicles to Maldives in order to bolster maritime security.
            \n<\/span><\/li>\n
          3. India has signed a Comprehensive Action Plan for Defence<\/strong> in April 2016 to consolidate India-Maldives defence partnership.
            \n<\/span><\/li>\n
          4. India provides the largest number of training opportunities for Maldivian National Defence Force (MNDF), meeting around 70% of their defence training requirements.
            \n<\/span><\/li>\n
          5. India and Maldives conduct many security Joint Exercises like \u201cEkuverin\u201d, \u201cDosti\u201d, \u201cEkatha\u201d<\/strong> and \u201cOperation Shield<\/strong>\u201d.
            \n<\/span><\/li>\n
          6. India launched the Operation Cactus<\/strong> in 1988 to help the government of Maldives in the neutralizing the coup attempt.
            \n<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n
          7. Humanitarian Assistance Cooperation:<\/strong> India has always lent a helping hand to Maldives in humanitarian assistance. Mentioned below are some of the examples of humanitarian assistance:
            \n<\/span><\/p>\n
              \n
            1. India has signed an MoU with Maldives for High Impact Community Development Projects (HICDPs)<\/span> in 2019. A number of socio-economic development projects are planned to be implemented in Maldives through these projects.
              \n<\/span><\/li>\n
            2. India has provided 1,00,000 Covishield vaccines to Maldives<\/span> in January 2021 during the peak of the pandemic. Through Operation Sanjeevani<\/span><\/strong>, India supplied 6.2 tonnes of essential medicines to Maldives in the fight against COVID 19. India has handed over two sea ambulances<\/span> to the Ministry of Defence of Maldives.
              \n<\/span><\/li>\n
            3. India provided assistance to Maldives during recovery efforts after the 2004 Tsunami. India also helped address the shortage of drinking water in Maldives in 2014 through Operation Neer<\/strong>.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n
            4. Comprehensive Economic and Maritime Security Partnership: <\/strong>A high-level strategic framework established between India and the Maldives in October 2024 during Maldivian President Muizzu’s visit to India. It aims to deepen bilateral cooperation across economic development, infrastructure, trade, and maritime security, rooted in shared democratic values and regional stability.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

              <\/a>What are the Challenges in India-Maldives Relations?<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

              India-Maldives relations suffer from a lot of challenges. Some of which are mentioned below-<\/span><\/p>\n

                \n
              1. Political Challenges:<\/strong> In the recently concluded Maldivian Presidential elections, the electoral issue had become a tussle between India First vs India out campaigns<\/span>. The victory of Mohamed Muizzu was being seen as Victory of India Out Campaign<\/span>. The present President of Maldives Dr. Mohamed Muizzu and the former president Abdulla Yameen have been the vocal advocates in the \u2018India Out\u2018 Campaign<\/span>. Both leaders are opposed to India\u2019s military presence in Maldives. <\/span><\/li>\n
              2. Radicalisation:<\/strong> A large number of Maldives citizens had joined violent extremist organisations such as the <\/span>Islamic State (IS)<\/span>. There has been a steady <\/span>rise in recruits joining jihadi groups in Pakistan<\/span> over the last decade. There is now a greater risk that terrorist organisations based in <\/span>Pakistan will use Maldives as a staging ground for attacks on India<\/span> and Indian assets. <\/span><\/li>\n
              3. Growing Chinese Influence: <\/span><\/strong>China has enhanced its influence in Maldives. Maldives is an essential \u2018pearl\u2019 in China\u2019s \u2018String of Pearls\u2019 initiative in South Asia. The return of pro-Chinese government in Maldives<\/span>, India’s diplomatic space was expected to reduce in the region.<\/span><\/li>\n
              4. Climate Change:<\/strong>\u00a0As both India and Maldives are low-lying island nations, they are vulnerable to the effects of climate change, including rising sea levels and marine heatwaves. Maldives faces the risk of submergence.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                <\/a>What Should be the way forward for India-Maldives Relations?<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n
                  \n
                1. Engage with the newly elected government: <\/strong>India must engage with the newly elected government of Maldives and address its concerns. India must convey that the projects being undertaken are for the general good of the people of Maldives. For e.g. the redevelopment project at Hanimadhoo<\/span> will improve tourist inflow as both the runway and terminal capacity will be increased. Tourism is the mainstay of Maldives economy. Last year, the visit of the Maldivian president\u00a0 to India aimed at course correction in the India-Maldives relations. The visit is seen as an effort to reset India-Maldives ties.<\/span><\/li>\n
                2. Increase the development assistance:<\/strong>\u00a0India should increase development assistance to Maldives. India should target projects that have <\/span>larger impact on general population of Maldives<\/span>. This will enhance India\u2019s goodwill among the people of Maldives. It will address concerns that have led to <\/span>‘India Out’ Campaigns<\/span>.<\/span><\/li>\n
                3. Timely Completion of Infrastructure Projects-<\/span><\/strong> Timely completion of infrastructure projects being undertaken by India like the<\/span> Greater Male Connectivity Project (GMCP)<\/span>\u00a0will offer a credible and lucrative alternatives to Chinese projects.<\/span><\/li>\n
                4. Target Youth Employment:<\/strong>\u00a0India\u2019s <\/span>High Impact Community Development Projects (HICPs)<\/span> in Maldives must include projects that aim to <\/span>improve employability<\/span> and foster entrepreneurship among the youth. This will help in countering the threats of radicalisation and extremism emanating from the soil.<\/span><\/li>\n
                5. Increase in India’s Development aid:<\/strong>\u00a0India should continue to increase the financial aid and assistance<\/span> to Maldives to prevent the debt crisis and economic catastrophe in Maldives.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                  CONCLUSION:<\/strong>
                  \nMaldives holds a significant place in India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ Policy & Vision MAHASAGAR. Some recent initiatives like President Muizzu’s visit to India last year & now Indian PM’s visit as guest of honour to Maldives’ independence day celebrations will help in ironing out the differences developed between 2 nations & deepen the ties.
                  \n<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
                  Read More- The Indian Express<\/a>, Wikipedia\u00a0<\/a><\/strong>
                  \nUPSC Syllabus: India and its neighbourhood relations<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

                   <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                  Indian Prime Minister, Mr. Modi, will be the guest of honour at the Maldives’ Independence Day celebrations on 26 July. This will be Mr. Modi’s first trip to the island nation after the change in the leadership there. In the recent past, India-Maldives relations had become a major challenge for India’s foreign policy establishment. India-Maldives… Continue reading India-Maldives Relations- Significance and Challenges- Explained Pointwise<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10391,"featured_media":343308,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[130],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-343176","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-7-pm","entry"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/India-Maldives-Relations.png?fit=1260%2C800&ssl=1","views":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/343176","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10391"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=343176"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/343176\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/343308"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=343176"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=343176"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=343176"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}