As Prime Minister Narendra Modi said “India and the Maldives are not just neighbors; we are natural partners. Our destinies are intertwined, and we share the same vision of peace and prosperity.”  

Geopolitical and Geostrategic Importance of Maldives for India: Focus on Trade and Energy Flows

1. Strategic Location: Maldives’ position on key global maritime trade routes enhances India’s maritime domain awareness and security.
2. Energy Security: Located along key maritime routes between the Gulf of Aden and the Strait of Malacca, the Maldives serves as a critical “toll gate” for nearly half of India’s trade and 80% of its energy imports.
3. Regional Stability: Strong ties with the Maldives support India’s ‘Neighborhood First’ policy, ensuring political stability and minimizing external influences like China.
4. Countering China: India seeks to prevent the Maldives from falling into China’s Belt and Road Initiative debt trap, preserving regional dominance.
5. Trade Hub Potential: The Maldives can serve as a logistics and shipping hub, complementing India’s trade routes and boosting regional economic integration.
6. Maritime Surveillance: Geographic proximity aids India in enhancing surveillance and accessing deep-sea resources through joint projects, strengthening maritime security.
7. Defence Cooperation: A Defence Action Plan was signed in 2016 to strengthen this partnership. India provides nearly 70% of Maldives’ defence training, both on the islands and in India’s military academies.

Challenges

1. Growing Chinese Influence: Eg- China signed 20 “key” agreements, including on tourism cooperation, disaster risk reduction and the blue economy during visit of Xi Jinping.
2. Diplomatic Turmoil – undiplomatic words used by ministers in Maldives, President Muizzu asking India to withdraw military personnel and choosing China for one of his first overseas visits
3. Domestic politics – The ‘India Out’ campaign against the presence of the Indian military on Maldivian soil.
4. India’s security interests hinge on the Maldives’ political stability; internal turmoil could disrupt cooperation and threaten maritime security objectives.
5. Non-traditional threats: Piracy, terrorism, and drug trafficking require ongoing collaboration and intelligence sharing between India and the Maldives.
6. Extremism: The Maldives’ susceptibility to extremism and radicalization demands joint efforts to counter these security challenges.

Way forward

1. Promote Non-Reciprocal Development Assistance to counter  ‘Big Brother Perception: Building on the principles of the Munroe Doctrine, India should focus on providing nonreciprocal, consultative, and cooperative development assistance to the Maldives. ‘
2. Enhance Maritime Security Collaboration including joint naval exercises, surveillance operations, and information sharing. 
3. Engage in Cultural and People-to-People Exchanges: Programs that promote tourism, student exchanges, and cultural initiatives will help build mutual understanding and strengthen bilateral relations.
4. Address Domestic Political Dynamics: India should be sensitive to the internal political landscape of the Maldives, engaging with all political factions and civil society groups to ensure broad-based support for its initiatives. 

Sustained Diplomacy and strengthening People to People connect is essential to build trust and align  ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy with the Maldive’s ‘India First’ policy.