Mentor’s Comment:

India being Maldives immediate neighbour has ensured security, infrastructure and finance for growth. Introduction should explain the general relation between both the countries.

Further, mention about the issues which India witnesses in bilateral relation as a threat. Islamist radicalization, Role of China etc.

Next, mention way forward, what needs to be done in contemporary context and conclude.

Model Answer:

• India and Maldives enjoyed historic ties with each other. India, being Maldives immediate neighbour, provided her with security, infrastructure and finance for growth. Indian companies and personnel were based in Maldives for decades and there was a close people to people interaction between the two nations. Infact, when foreign mercenaries tried to throw up the government of Maldives in 80s, it was Indian army which saved the nation from the armed threat when no other country came to the rescue of Maldives.
• But there has been a series of setbacks in India-Maldives ties. Earlier move by Abdulla Yameen, Former President of the Maldives, have put Malé on a collision course with New Delhi. India criticised the government for its incarceration of former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom and Chief Justice Abdulla Saeed, sentenced to 19 months in prison for an alleged plot to unseat
• The strain is now evident in two areas where India-Maldives ties had been the strongest: strategic relations and people-to-people engagement.
• However, with a new government under President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in office, the Maldives appears ready to get its relationship with India back of track which will be reflected in the matter of time.

Issues with India:

Islamist radicalization:

• In the past decade or so, the number of Maldivians drawn towards terrorist groups like the Islamic State (IS) and Pakistan-based madrassas and jihadist groups has been increasing. The number is highest in the vicinity of India.
• The exfiltration of members of Indian terror groups like the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) and the Indian Mujahideen (IM) to the Maldives after their crackdown in India.
• The possibility of LeT using remote Maldivian islands as a launch pad for terror attacks against India and Indian interests.
• Overall, India’s concern is regarding how radical Islamist forces have been gaining political influence in the neighbourhood.
• Yameen of Maldives in December 2017 also signed free trade agreement with China. The Maldives, under Yameen, was also wooing Pakistan, China’s closest friend and ally. Soon after Pakistan army chief paid a visit to Malé, Islamabad offered a loan to finance the purchase of two aircraft from Pakistan.

Role of China:

• India views the growing Chinese footprint in the Maldives with concern. India’s concern stems from the increasing Chinese strategic presence in the Indian Ocean region.
• The Maldives has emerged as an important ‘pearl’ in China’s “String of Pearls” for ensuring the security of its sea lanes, especially the unhindered flow of critically-needed energy supplies from Africa and West Asia through the Indian Ocean.
• Beijing has evinced a keen interest in developing infrastructure in the Ihavandhoo, Marao and Maarandhoo Islands.
• During Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit in 2014, the Maldives agreed to become a partner in China’s Maritime Silk Route.
• Though the Maldivian government under Yameen had reassured India that the Chinese presence is purely economic, the concern of ‘places turning into bases’ is genuine.
• In December 2017, China signed the Free Trade Agreement with Maldives.
• It paves the way for a tighter embrace between Beijing and Maldives and it will also open the Maldives to Chinese goods and tourists in unprecedented numbers.
• Delhi saw this as a betrayal of the Maldives’ publicly stated “India First” policy.

Signs of Fresh Beginning:

• Recently, the Indian Prime Minister made maiden visit to the Maldives for the swearing in ceremony of Solih and signed a joint statement which noted the ‘importance of maintaining peace and security in the Indian Ocean and being mindful of each other’s concern and aspirations for the stability of the region.
• With the new regime taken over in Maldives, the relation is going to be paved in entire new directions. India attaches highest importance to its relationship with the Maldives which is marked by trust, transparency, mutual understanding and sensitivity.
• Further, As per India’s neighbourhood first policy, India stands ready to fully support the Government of Maldives in its socio-economic development.
• Recently the foreign ministers of both the nations met and discussed defense and security cooperation. Maldives has shown interest of taking Dornier aircraft from India.
• Maldives realization of negative impact of FTA signed with China and many other projects run by China in Maldives on inflated cost has very much brought the nation close to India.
• Even as the economic component of the relationship is significant to Beijing, it is the geographical location of the Maldives in the Indian Ocean that appears to have been of the greatest interest.

Conclusion:

• However, like in India’s relations with other smaller neighbors, the key question is one of delivery. India has to be mindful of the fact it is competing with China in many of these projects and India will be judged against China’s accomplishments.
• Even though things have turned around for India politically in many of the neighboring countries such as Sri Lanka and the Maldives, New Delhi’s ability to match China in providing economic and infrastructural assistance is open to question. While dealing with smaller neighbors, India also needs to become a lot more magnanimous, staying true to its own “Gujral doctrine,” thus creating greater confidence. India has a great opportunity in the Maldives to demonstrate that it can learn from its previous errors.