Tag: Malé

No Comment From India on Maldivian Fishing Boat Controversy, Solih Criticises Actions

There has been no response from either the external affairs or the defence ministry despite Maldives requesting an explanation on why Indian security forces had boarded Maldivian fishing boats.

New Delhi: India continues to remain silent two days after the Maldivian defence ministry claimed that Indian security forces boarded fishing boats in its territorial waters. Meanwhile, a prominent opposition leader and former president, Mohamed Solih, has condemned the alleged action, characterising it as a breach of international law.

Earlier on Friday (February 2), the Maldivian defence ministry had posted a press release in Divehi that India had been requested to explained why the Indian Coast Guard entered the Extended Economic Zone of Maldives and boarded Maldivian fishing boats. The request was made through the foreign ministry, it noted.

However, since then, there has been no further communication or public clarification from either side.

Despite queries, the Maldivian foreign ministry did not confirm whether they had taken up the matter directly with the Indian side.

There has also been no response from either the Ministry of External Affairs or the defence ministry on Sunday.

The Maldivian yellow tunafin fishermen’s association had first flagged on their twitter account that Indian soldiers had boarded three fishing boats on Wednesday.

The Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) had rushed a team to the spot, but they did not mention the nationality of the foreign security forces.

However, the Maldivian defence ministry’s press note on Friday identified the boarding teams from Indian Coast Guard Ship 246 and Coast Guard Ship 253.

The fishermen association also posted several videos that showed armed soldiers boarding thee fishing boats while a Indian Coast Guard ship loomed in the background.

The issue flared up in public just as India and Maldives had, on Friday, reached an understanding on withdrawing Indian military personnel operating aircrafts for humanitarian purposes and replacing them civilians. 

This had been a key campaign promise of President Mohamed Muizzu who won last year’s presidential election, accusing the incumbent of compromising Maldives’ sovereignty.

MDP leader and former President Mohamed Solih, who had faced the brunt of the ‘India Out’ campaign, criticised the actions of boarding Maldivian boats by foreign forces as “highly inappropriate”. 

He reportedly said that no country should enter the territorial waters of another sovereign nation without permission, as it goes against international law. 

While both countries may have seemingly resolved the issue of the military personnel, the increased activity of Chinese research vessels in the Indian ocean waters near Maldives has also raised the hackles in India.

Soon after President Muizzu returned from his state visit to China, a Chinese research vessel, Xiang Yiang Hong 3 was observed as having left its home port of Sanya with a destination for Malé. Maldives claimed that it had allowed the Chinese vessel to dock at Malé port, but that it would not conduct any research in its waters.

Maldives President-Elect Calls for Respect for Sovereignty, India Stresses Cooperation on Security Challenges

After his victory, Muizzu had reiterated that his administration would commence work on removing Indian military personnel from the first day of his job. His presidential term will be inaugurated on November 17.

New Delhi: India would like to “collaborate closely” with Maldives to address regional challenges like transnational crimes and disaster relief, even as President-elect Mohamed Muizzu said that the major pressing issue that needs to be resolved after he takes over formally is relations with New Delhi.

One of the major campaign pledges by Muizzu, who won the presidential polls in Maldives with 54% of the votes against the incumbent, had been a commitment to not allowing the deployment of Indian military personnel in the Maldives. This had also been the basis of an ‘India Out’ campaign run by the opposition, based on the presumption that Indian troops were active in the Maldives.

After his victory, Muizzu had reiterated that his administration would commence work on removing Indian military personnel from the first day of his job. His presidential term will be inaugurated on November 17.

During the weekly media briefing in New Delhi, the Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi, answering questions about the new Maldives President-elect’s statements on Indian troops, said that there was need to work closely on regional security challenges.

“All I would say… the focus of our partnership with the Maldives has always been on capacity building and working together to address our shared challenges and priorities, including security challenges and priorities. As neighbours, we need to collaborate closely to address these challenges confronting our region, such as transnational crimes and Humanitarian and Disaster Relief situations. We look forward to engaging with the new administration in the Maldives with all these issues,” he said on Thursday.

Bagchi also said that the Indian prime minister had been the “first leader” to congratulate Muizzu on his victory on Sunday morning.

“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 rule of law,” he noted.

The Indian high commissioner Munu Mahawar called on the president-elect on Wednesday and also handed over a letter from the Indian leader. “He had a good discussion on various aspects of our bilateral partnership, including development cooperation,” said the MEA spokesperson.

The president-elect’s office had issued a readout of the discussions in Malé that Muizzu had said that he hoped to “restore relations with India on the basis of respect for sovereignty”.

Muizzu, as per his office, said that the Maldivian people had voted in the presidential election to “protect the country’s sovereignty, and expressed confidence India will respect the decision”. He also raised the issue of repayment of loans taken by the Solih administration.

Assuring that India will fully respect Maldives’ independence and sovereignty, Mahawar responded that New Delhi was ready to negotiate debt repayment, according to the president-elect’s office.

In an interview to Mihaaru News published on Thursday, Muizzu said that the most pressing issue that needs to be resolved once he assumes office is his country’s relationship with India.

Among the issues listed were the large debt owed to India and the presence of Indian troops in the Maldives.

“If we don’t have foreign troops, we do not have any problems. If we have the freedom to speak for ourselves in the affairs of our country and what our country has to say on other platforms in the world, then we would not have issues with any country in the world,” said Muizzu.

The Solih administration had repeatedly denied that there was any Indian military activity in the Maldives.

Asked about the large projects funded by India, he said that there were no issues as long as there were no military personnel posted in those areas.

“For example, when the Hanimaadhoo Airport is built, there will be engineers there. But it doesn’t have to be [Indian] soldiers. Being a soldier is the problem. We have to ask them to sort it out. It has to be sorted out. Civilians have to be there to work. Even if they don’t wear the uniform, the problem is that there are military personnel,” Muizzu said.

The Maldivian outlet also asked Muizzu about The Wire’s report that quoted his foreign affairs adviser Mohammed Hussain Shareef ‘Mundhu’ as saying that the first foreign visit would be to India.

Asked about his remarks, Muizzue told Mihaaru News that he believed that the tradition of new Maldivian presidents making their first visit to India should continue. He said that, given the current situation, it would be ideal for him to make his first trip to India, but that no decision has still been made on it.

Indian High Commission Says 7 Indians Among 10 Who Died in Maldives Fire

A day ago, the Maldivian media, quoting the Maldives National Defence Force, had said nine Indians were among the 10 people who were killed in the blaze.

New Delhi: Seven Indian nationals are among 10 people who have died in a major fire that broke out in a garage below the cramped living quarters of foreign workers at Male in the Maldives, the Indian High Commission in Maldives has said.

A day ago, the Maldivian media, quoting the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF), said nine Indians were among the 10 people who were killed in the blaze.

The fire broke out in a car repair garage in M. Nirufehi, located near the Maaveyo Mosque, around 12:30 am local time on Thursday.

The fire broke out in the ground-floor garage, while the first floor houses cramped living quarters for migrant workers. The only ventilation is a single window, reports have said.

The High Commission of India in the Maldives said that local authorities have informed them that seven of the deceased were Indian nationals.

“Fire incident in Male: Maldivian authorities have confirmed that 7 of the deceased were Indian nationals. The identity of one person is still being confirmed. High Commission is in contact with the families, ” it said in a tweet.

The High Commission also tweeted that Ambassador Munu Mahawar, along with officials of the mission, met Indian nationals who had been evacuated from the building.

“They were assured of all possible assistance,” the tweet said.

The deceased in the fire include men and women who are Indian and Bangladeshi nationals, the Sun reported.

As per the authorities, the migrant quarters housed at least 38 people, and there were cooking gas cylinders placed next to each bed. As many as 28 were rescued, of which nine remain under NDMA’s care; six women and three men, it said.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said in a tweet on Thursday: “Deeply grieved by the tragic loss of lives in a fire incident in Male today. Full details regarding Indians being ascertained by the High Commission who are contacting affected families.”

Maldivian Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid on Thursday spoke to Indian counterpart Jaishankar and conveyed condolences to the government and people of Maldives over the death of a number of Indians in a major fire in the capital Male.

In the phone conversation, Shahid informed Jaishankar that a full investigation has been ordered into the incident that killed at least 10 people.

The Maldivian foreign minister said he also spoke to his Bangladesh counterpart.

“Spoke to EAM of India @DrSJaishankar & FM of Bangladesh Dr A.K. Abdul Momen and conveyed condolences of the Government & people of Maldives, to the families of the deceased in the fire incident in Male last night. Informed that a full investigation is under-way,” Shahid tweeted.

Separately, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi described the incident as “tragic”.

He said the Indian high commission in Male is extending all possible assistance to the affected Indians and their families.

“Our high commission there has clarified that local authorities have indicated that at least 10 bodies have been found. Local authorities are engaged in identifying the bodies,” Bagchi said.

“Our high commission is in close contact with the Maldivian authorities at various levels. Our high commission is extending all possible assistance to the affected Indians and their families. They have also opened a helpline,” Bagchi said.

“It is a very unfortunate development. Till such time we are able to identify the bodies as Indian citizens, I would not like to comment or confirm how many have passed away,” he said.

(With PTI inputs)

Former Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed Injured in Blast Outside His House

External affairs minister S. Jaishankar was the first foreign leader to respond to the incident. The minister tweeted that he was ‘deeply concerned’ and wished the former president a ‘speedy recovery’.

New Delhi: Former Maldives president and the current speaker of parliament Mohamed Nasheed was injured in a blast outside his home on Thursday.

According to Maldives Police, Nasheed has sustained injuries and is currently receiving treatment at ADK Hospital in Male.

Maldives parliament’s deputy speaker posted the same message on Twitter saying the public will be updated on Nasheed’s condition.

Maldives President Ibrahim Solih rushed to the hospital, accompanied by defence minister Mariya Didi and other officials.

Maldives president’s spokesperson announced that the president will meet with the National Security Council tonight regarding the attack. President Solih tweeted that he strongly condemned the attack and said that Maldives’ National Defence Forces and Police were investigating the blast.

A special session of parliament has also been convened tonight.

The ruling Maldives Democratic Party described the incident as a “terrorist attack targeting speaker Mohamed Nasheed, to take his life”.

India’s external affairs minister S. Jaishankar was the first foreign leader to respond to the incident. Jaishankar tweeted that he was “deeply concerned” and wished the former president a “speedy recovery”.

Well-informed sources have told The Wire that Nasheed’s injuries were relatively minor. However, this incident sent shockwaves throughout the island nation, with politicians from all hues condemning the attack.

Nasheed’s only credible security threat has been from Islamist groups, who have previously attacked civil society members.

Ahmed Mahloof, Minister of Youth and Community Empowerment in Maldives told the Indian Express the incident was reported at around 8.30 pm (Maldives Time).

“He was about to leave his home. The explosion happened while he was walking towards his car. It is a narrow street where he lives so he had to walk a few meters to reach the car. It was reportedly a motorbike that exploded. He was accompanied by his bodyguards and one of them was also injured,” he told Indian Express.

Mahloof belongs to Nasheed’s Maldivian Democratic Party.

A foreign national was also injured in the incident as per a video taken by the local media.

(With inputs from Reuters)

After Six Years, India, Maldives and Sri Lanka to Revive Trilateral Maritime Security Forum

National security advisor Ajit Doval will be travelling to Sri Lanka to attend the meeting on Friday.

New Delhi: After a gap of six years, the trilateral maritime security dialogue will be revived, with a meeting of the top security leadership of India, Maldives and Sri Lanka in Colombo on Friday.

It was first reported by Sri Lankan newspaper, Daily Mirror and then publicly announced by foreign offices on Thursday evening.

National security advisor Ajit Doval will be travelling to Sri Lanka to attend the meeting, and Maldivian defence minister Mariya Didi will also be traveling from Male to attend the meeting.

This will be the fourth version of the trilateral forum, first held in 2011. The last meeting was held in March 2014 in New Delhi, which was hosted by then NSA Shivshankar Menon. Sri Lanka was represented by then defence minister, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who was elected as President last year.

A key reason that there had been no other meetings over the years was the situation in Maldives – with relations between Male and New Delhi having gone through a rough patch under the Abdulla Yameen administration. Nazim, who had attended the last trilateral meeting as Maldives’ defence minister, was arrested and put behind bars on anti-terrorism law, which Yameen had used to imprison several opposition leaders and potential political rivals.

Also read: Seven Years on, India Now Backs a Defence Pact Between the US and Maldives

After Gotabaya Rajapaksa took over as president in November 2019, there had been proposals to resume the meeting, but then COVID-19 restrictions disrupted plans.

“The meeting will provide an opportunity for discussion on issues pertaining to cooperation in maritime security in the Indian Ocean region,” said Ministry of External Affairs in a press note.

At the second meeting of the trilateral cooperation in maritime security in July 2013, they had agreed to draw a roadmap based on three areas of activities – maritime domain awareness, training and capacity building, and joint activities including trilateral exercises and cooperation in legal and policy issues related to piracy.

The last meeting also discussed new areas of cooperation including “hydrography; training in visit, board, search and seizure operations; training on board Indian sail training ships; exchanges between think-tanks; and joint participation in adventure activities”.

With plans to expand the footprint of the trilateral forum, Mauritius and Seychelles had been invited to the 2014 meeting as observers, with plans to induct them as full participants eventually.

This time, Mauritius, Seychelles and Bangladesh will also take part as observers, but due to the travel restrictions, they will only attend the meeting, virtually.

UNGA Presidency: India Reiterates Support To Maldivian Foreign Minister’s Candidature

Addressing the Maldives’ ministry of foreign affairs in Male, foreign secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said India has always been supportive of the Maldives in various multilateral fora.

Male: India on Monday said the Maldives should play a more prominent role in the United Nations and reiterated its support to its Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid’s candidature for the presidency of the 76th session of the UN General Assembly next year.

Addressing the Maldives’ ministry of foreign affairs in Male, foreign secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said in today’s globalised and interconnected world, multilateral engagement is very important. Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s address to the UNGA last year was appreciated by one and all, he said, adding that India feels that the Maldives should play a more prominent role in the UN.

“In this context, I am happy to reiterate the commitment made by our external affairs minister earlier during the virtual meeting with foreign minister Abdulla Shahid that India will support his candidature for the presidency of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly next year,” the foreign secretary said.

“With his vast diplomatic experience and leadership qualities, foreign minister Shahid has the best credentials to preside over the General Assembly in these tumultuous times. His presidency will also provide greater visibility to the Maldives,” Shringla said.

“We are happy that his term will coincide with our membership of the United Nations Security Council for 2021-22. We look forward to working closely with the Maldives in the United Nations,” he said.

India has always been supportive of the Maldives in various multilateral fora, he said.

“We are happy that the Maldives has re-joined the Commonwealth in February this year and can continue to benefit from this historic organisation,” Shringla said.

He said India has supported the Maldives in joining the Indian Ocean Regional Association where the Maldives can not only benefit but also bring a lot of value to this organisation.

Also read: Maldives: India Bids to Overtake China in Funding ‘High Visibility’ Infrastructure

“We also note the enhanced engagement of the Maldives with the United Nations and its specialised organisations,” he said. Shringla said India and the Maldives have had to face the enormous uncertainties that the COVID-19 pandemic has brought.

“In mitigating this impact on our people and economy, we were also happy to extend assistance to the Maldives in dealing with the crisis,” he said.

“India has striven to ensure that there are no disruptions in our support to the Maldives as was seen in the case of the continued supply of onions even in the wake of export restrictions imposed by India for others,” he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to the Maldives in June last year said ‘Neighbourhood First is our priority; and in the neighbourhood, the Maldives is the priority”, he noted.

“PM Modi also said that India’s cooperation will always be focussed on the welfare of the people and based on the requirements and priorities of Maldives. It is no coincidence therefore that the Maldives was the first and the largest recipient of India’s COVID-19 assistance in our neighbourhood,” Shringla said.

“I have no hesitation in assuring you that this assistance will continue beyond COVID-19 and will manifest itself whenever the Maldives requires Indian assistance of any kind,” he added.

In his remarks at the National Stadium, Male while handing over children’s parks for 67 Islands in the Maldives under Cash Grant Projects, Shringla said the coronavirus pandemic has caused widespread disruptions.

“I am happy that even Covid could not stop or slow down India-Maldives cooperation. President Solih has himself publicly pointed out that India has been the largest supporter and assistance provider in dealing with the pandemic,” Shringla said.

Last month India provided $250 million financial assistance, as a concessional loan, leaving it entirely to the Maldives to decide its usage according to its priorities, he said.

“It is reassuring that when we emerge from the pandemic, we will emerge together with our partnership stronger than ever before. We will work together with you to mitigate the socio-economic impact of COVID-19,” he said.

The Maldives has reported 11,986 COVID-19 cases so far with 40 deaths.

Maldives Court Orders Arrest of Former President Over Alleged Corruption

The Maldives is due to hold a parliamentary election on April 6, with corruption likely to dominate campaigning.

Male: A court in the Maldives ordered the arrest and detention on Monday of the former president, Abdulla Yameen, on suspicion of money laundering.

Yameen, who drew the Indian Ocean island country closer to China during his rule, is accused of receiving $1 million of government money through a private company, SOF Private Limited, which has been implicated in a corrupt deal to lease tropical islands for hotel development.

He denies the allegations.

After a two-and-a-half hour remand hearing on Monday, prosecutors sought a court order to detain the former president. The court ruled that Yameen, who appeared in person, should be taken into custody.

Preliminary hearings in his money-laundering trial are expected to begin this week.

The Maldives is due to hold a parliamentary election on April 6, with corruption likely to dominate campaigning.

On Friday, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih suspended two government ministers over financial transactions conducted with SOF Private.

The scandal has implicated several other businessmen and politicians, all of whom deny wrongdoing.

Officials from SOF could not be reached for comment.

The state-run Anti-Corruption Commission in 2016 found that SOF, a company launched by former tourism minister Ahmed Adeeb, was used to launder more than $92 million from the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation, the country’s tourism board.

(Reuters) 

India-Maldives ‘Very Liberal’ Visa Regime to Come into Effect on March 11

The Maldivian president has also sought parliamentary approval for a mutual legal assistance treaty with India.

New Delhi: Signalling the honeymoon phase isn’t over, India and Maldives announced on Tuesday the new “very liberal” visa regime will be in place from March 11, just as the Maldivian president gave the green light to seek parliamentary approval for a bilateral mutual legal assistance treaty with India.

On Tuesday, the Maldives and India exchanged diplomatic notes for implementing the visa facilitation agreement, which was signed during President Ibu Solih’s visit in December 2018. The new agreement will be in place from March 11.

Solih’s trip in December was his first after his surprise victory over the incumbent candidate Yameen at the polls. The election of a new government in Malé provided a chance to mend ties for New Delhi. Under Yameen, relations with India had been strained, as Maldives laid out a red carpet for China for strategic infrastructure projects.

A liberalised visa regime was top priority for the Maldivian government, as thousands of nationals from the island nation travel to India for education and health reasons. Over the last few years, there were several complaints that India had asked many Maldivian nationals to leave the country because they had overstayed their visa.

According to India’s ministry of external affairs (MEA), the new agreement “provides a very liberal visa regime for Maldivian nationals to visit India for tourism, business, education and medical purposes.” “It also makes it easier for Indians to travel to Maldives for business purposes,” the MEA added. Officials claim this is India’s most liberal visa facilitation agreement with any country.

The new agreement allows Maldivian parents to obtain visas that will be valid during the duration of their children’s academic term. This facility will also be extended to the dependents of parents, enabling minor siblings to also remain with the family during their stay in India. Furthermore, attendants of Maldivian patients will also be able to get visas for the duration medical treatment sought in India now.

Also read: Maldives Defence Minister: No Need for Close Military Ties With Countries Other Than India

If a Maldivian national travels to India on the 90 day ordinary visa, he or she will now be able to convert their travel document into a medical visa without traveling back to the Maldives.

On the same day as diplomatic notes on the new visa regime were exchanged, the Maldivian president also decided to apply for parliamentary approval for a mutual legal assistance treaty with India.

A press release on the cabinet meeting from Maldives President’s office states that the treaty will allow for the execution of arrest warrants and also improve the prosecution of transnational crimes, like terrorism.

“The treaty will facilitate the fight against criminal activity, especially crimes related to terrorism. It will also aid in the investigation of such matters, obtaining evidence, and broaden the opportunity to interrogate those in question,” it said.

Maldives Defence Minister: No Need for Close Military Ties With Countries Other Than India

Mariya Ahmed Didi said that there had been no mention of China or Pakistan during discussions with India.

New Delhi: Stating that Maldives does not require close military cooperation with other countries besides India, Maldivian defence minister Mariya Didi said that discussions with Indian counterparts focused on implementing previously stalled projects, including the development of coast guard facilities.

Didi, Maldives’ first woman defence minister is currently on an official visit to India, accompanied by the chief of Maldives National Defence Forces (MNDF), Major General Abdulla Shamaal. She had held talks with Indian defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday.

The second round of the India-Maldives Defence Cooperation Dialogue also took place Thursday, and was co-chaired by Indian defence secretary Sanjay Mitra and the MNDF chief.

During the previous government’s rule, New Delhi and Malé had drifted apart, with President Abdulla Yameen moving toward China despite a professed ‘India First’ policy. Incidentally, Pakistan’s army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa, had been the first foreign leader to visit Maldives last year after the Yameen government had lifted the widely-criticised state of emergency after 45 days.

Also read: After Hiccups, India and Maldives Target Economic Cooperation

Speaking to reporters on Friday, January 25, Didi said that there had been no mention of China – or Pakistan – during discussions with India.

“India respects our sovereignty, they do not talk about our relations with other countries. [As far] as we are concerned, we are very comfortable [with] having India as our very close friend because they always came to our rescue – [be it] in 1988, the 2004 Tsunami or the recent water crisis,” she said.

Maldives, she noted, wanted to keep the Indian ocean region a protected zone, “where the bigger powers don’t engage in a way that could perhaps be detrimental to the interests of our nation.”

“Our closest neighbour has been India and they have always been there to help, so there is absolutely no need to have any other sort of military cooperation with any country as such,” she added.

The chief of Maldives defence forces said that talks revolved around ways to put in “collaborative structures” in information sharing and “fusion mechanism”.

In 2016, India and Maldives had signed an Action Plan for defence cooperation. It had drawn up several joint defence projects, but their implementation had been stalled for last few years, as relationship with India deteriorated.

A top priority had been the proposal for India to “partner” with Maldives in the planned development of infrastructure for the coast guard at the atoll of Uthuru Thila Falhu. As per the Action Plan, Maldives would allow India to have access to the facilities for training, Humanitarian Assistance And Disaster Relief (HADR) and surveillance of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

MNDF chief Major General Abdulla Shamaal said that there was certainly a need to develop coast guard facilities for Maldives. “There is a need to have repairs and [construct] a pier for berthing. At the time, we are at the discussion stage,” he said.

He added that a decision would be soon made whether the construction at Uthuru Thila Falhu should go ahead or if the civil port at nearby Thilafushi island would be expanded.

Also read: Maldives Wants to Use Proposed Indian Line of Credit to Develop Main International Port

The Yameen government had earlier asked New Delhi to take back two helicopters gifted to it by India. The new government of President Ibu Solih, which took over in November 2018, reversed the decision.

Mariya Didi noted that on Thursday, the helicopter was used to rescue the Mayor of Addu city, who had been lost at sea during a fishing expedition. “I don’t understand why it [flights of the Indian choppers] was stopped for a while. I don’t know how we can manage without the helicopters,” she said, adding that 160 lives have been “saved” because of them.

She also revealed that “all issues will be sorted within a few months” for the transfer of a Dornier aircraft as committed by India in the Action Plan. The installation of the coastal radar surveillance system, funded by India, would also be completed, she added.

After Hiccups, India and Maldives Target Economic Cooperation

President Ibrahim Solih’s first visit to New Delhi indicated that Maldives will try to re-balance its relations with India and China.

Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s first official state visit to India (December 16-18) provides impetus to bilateral cooperation between the two countries and must be seen in context to past political turbulence in Maldives and India’s response to those events.

The visit underscores the importance of bilateral and regional cooperation at all levels. India has offered $1.4 billion in assistance to Maldives for “budgetary support, currency swap and concessional lines of credit to fulfil the socio-economic development programmes of Maldives”.

This is a major boost to the new government, facing a debt burden of $1,188.2 million in 2017 (26% of the country’s GDP). The 2018 Maldives budget ($2 billion) prioritised solving the economic and social constrains by focusing on enhancing economic activities in the country. There seems to be convergence in priorities in the assistance offered by India to Maldives and the new government’s domestic economic vision.

Also Read: Maldives Wants to Use Proposed Indian Line of Credit to Develop Main International Port

Apart from the economic assistance, the two sides signed four MoUs on facilitation of visa arrangements and mutual cooperation to improve the ecosystem for agribusiness, cooperation in the field of information & communications technology and electronics. The visit also provided a platform to reaffirm India’s “Neighbourhood-First Policy” and Maldives “India-First Policy”. The change of government in Maldives was a positive development in terms of strengthening democracy and democratic values needed for regional stability, prosperity and security of Indian Ocean.

Unhindered cooperation?

The economic prospects are contingent on various factors, including India’s response to internal developments in Maldives. Moreover, Maldives’ economic needs, future stability of the coalition government, the new government’s foreign policy choices and convergence of interest between the two countries on dealing with traditional and non traditional security threats in the Indian Ocean region are other crucial aspects that need to be considered for unhindered cooperation.

The emphasis on these factors has a historical precedent. The internal political developments and foreign policy choices of previous government in Maldives became a concern for India, centering on the treatment meted out to the opposition leaders, including the former president Nasheed and the use of emergency provisions that curtailed freedom of expression and dissent.

The opposition coalition came together to successfully oust the government led by Abdulla Yameen in September 2018. The people’s desire to have a change of leader and the opposition coalition’s united campaign worked in favour of the Maldives Democratic Party (MDP) candidate Solih, who emerged victorious and assumed the role of President.

Maldives Election, Yameen

Former Maldives President Abdulla Yameen. Credit: Fred Dufour/Pool via REUTERS

While the presidential elections were a glimpse of democracy in Maldives, the impending parliamentary elections will consolidate the democratic principles, testing the strength of coalition agenda. The recent developments indicate that the coalition partners – the Jumhooree Party (JP), the MDP, Adalat Party (AP) and Gayoom-led Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) – will try to increase their respective strengths in the parliament. They may propose their party agenda to the people before the 2019 parliamentary elections.

The MDP has already taken a decision to field candidates in all the 87 constituencies, indicating a possible clash of interests with coalition partners in the future. It  will have to get the majority in parliament to implement the promised agenda. If it fails, the conflict of interest between the executive and the legislature might become a hurdle in the functioning of the government.

Also Read: Backed by India, Maldives Becomes IORA Member; Myanmar’s Entry Blocked at Last Hurdle

This was the reason for the downfall of the first democratically elected government of Nasheed in 2008,. The PPM-dominated parliament did not allow Nasheed to implement reforms at the local and national level.

Ousting Yameen was a unifying factor for the opposition parties, despite differences in ideology. Therefore, in the absence of Yameen, it remains to be seen whether the coalition partners will be able to take collective decisions on matters pertaining to economic, social development and foreign policy.

Economic cooperation: progress amidst hiccups

During Yameen’s tenure, India’s concerns on internal developments in Maldives led to the two nations drifting away. Maldives increasingly relied on extra regional powers such as China and Saudi Arabia for imports, exports as well as investments.

Nevertheless, India remained as an important development partner for Maldives in terms of establishing institutions in the health and education sector. India’s valuable assistance to Maldives during natural disasters has been well acknowledged.

Saudi Arabia and China are the largest investors in the country, engaged in developing major projects such as Ibrahim Nasir international airport, fishing harbours, Male-Hulhule Bridge, housing units in Hulumale among several others.

Given the role of multiple players in the country and Male’s dependence on tourism, the opportunities for India lie in diversifying its avenues of investment cooperation. Incidentally, President Solih met the Indian business community and promised to provide the legal protection required for foreign investment.

This may allay fears among the Indian businesses which were sceptical of further investments, given the ousting of GMR from Maldives by the previous regime. This incident was a blatant example of politicisation of Indian investments in Maldives. Solih’s assuring words may ensure that future Indian investments will not be used for political ends.

Reorientation of foreign policy?

In the foreign policy domain, Maldives’ decision to rejoin the commonwealth and restore ties with Qatar and Iran signals a reorientation of foreign policy. At the same time, Maldives will try to re-balance its relations with India and China.

Former President Nasheed has been vocal about Male-Beijing relations and proposed to pull out of the FTA with China and clear the estimated $3 billion loans taken from Beijing by the previous administration. However, the new government’s stand on China’s Belt and Road Initiative is still unclear.

Also Read: Modi Embraces Maldives as Mohamed Solih Takes Office, China out of Favour

During the election campaign, Solih was not critical of Chinese foreign investments in Maldives and assured special envoy Luo Shugang of continued cooperation. In this scenario, Maldives may review some of the projects and aspects of cooperation with China, including the FTA. Given the lack of clarity on his China policy, there is a possibility that Solih may either reduce dependence or continue with Chinese investments that are already in progress.

At the regional and multilateral level, New Delhi and Male share common interests and concerns. While the common interests have to do with reforming the UN General Assembly and the Security Council, implementation of the Paris Agreement, they include combating terrorism and piracy in the Indian Ocean. The SAARC and IORA can provide a platform to work on lingering concerns. Moreover, India, Maldives and Sri Lanka can explore ways to strengthen trilateral mechanisms to address these issues.

China's President Xi Jinping meets German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China December 10, 2018. Credit: Fred Dufour/Pool via REUTERS

Maldives may review some of the projects and aspects of cooperation with China, including the FTA. Credit: Fred Dufour/Pool via REUTERS

Hope amidst turbulence

India-Maldives relations over the past four years have faced difficult times. The political change in Maldives provides possibilities for a more transparent and vibrant platform to engage on issues of interests at the political, economic and regional level. At the same time, future cooperation will depend on internal developments in Maldives and India’s response to such developments.

If history is a lesson to the enlightened, India must tread a cautious path in dealing with the island nation.

Samatha Mallempati is a research fellow at the Indian Council of World Affairs.