The second high-level official core group meeting on Indian and Maldivian relations took place on the 3rd of February in the Indian capital city of New Delhi, in which it was decided that India would withdraw its military personnel from the Maldives by May 2024. The Maldives Foreign Ministry has made an official statement about the meeting saying both governments decided to agree upon the withdrawal of Indian military personnel from the Maldives. The controversy between both Nations was ignited after the negative comments against India and PM Modi were made by the three deputy ministers of youth affairs from the Maldives government after Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Lakshadweep.
The withdrawal of Indian Military personnel from the Maldives is in line with India out campaign launched by the Maldives president on the road of which he came to power. Maldives Foreign Ministry said that the Third high-level crore group meeting is tentatively scheduled for the last week of February. Still, the Indian Foreign Ministry said that it has not given any timeline for the third meeting. The core group meeting in New Delhi was primarily held to explore how to resolve the issues.
Table of Contents
image source- the diplomat
India Maldives relations
Maldives is an Island Nation located in the Indian Ocean. It got its independence from British colonial rule in 1966 and India was one of the first countries to recognize the independence of the Maldives. Since then, it has maintained very cordial relations with India. But in recent times the relations between the two nations are on the verge of descending.
1. India was Maldives’ second-largest trading partner in 2022 the bilateral trade between both countries has crossed the USD 300 million mark. Imports primarily comprise scrap metals while Indian export to the Maldives comprises Engineering Industrial Products.
2. Both countries share linguistic religious ethnic ties. During the 2004 Tsunami and water crisis in 2014, India was the first country to assist the island, Nation. India’s massive assistance to the Maldives during the COVID-19 pandemic and dispatch of vaccines in 2020 has reinforced the India Neighbourhood First policy.
3. Maldives economy is heavily dependent on the tourism sector and India is the largest source of visitors to the island Nation. In 2023 the largest number of tourists to the Maldives were from India.
4. Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital in the Maldives was constructed with 52 crores in aid from India besides this state-of-the-art cancer facility 150 health centers are also
5. Established. Institute of Technical Education was set up by the Indian government in the Maldives in 1996. India also meets around 70% of the Maldives Defense training requirements.
What went wrong?
1. The derogatory comments made by the three deputy ministers of the Maldives government have further stretched the strained relations.
2. The India Out campaign led by Maldivian president Mr. Muizzu is creating animosity about Indian investment in the island nation.
3. Maldives’ free trade agreement with China and its participation in China’s Belt Road initiative has given a major setback to India-Maldives relations. The Maldives has Matthew Chinese investment and it is being speculated that China is planning to develop a naval base in the Maldives.
Reactions to the ongoing India Maldives conflict
Comments made by the Maldivian ministers have sparked criticism in India. Many politicians, celebrities, and writers have severely condemned this ungraceful act. They also insisted that people consider domestic tourist destinations rather than traveling to the Maldives. In the wake of this, many have cancelled their trips to the Maldives and begun to consider domestic tourist spots.
Conclusion
Irrespective of all the differences, India remains an important priority for the Maldives because of its geopolitical importance in South Asia. Both nations needed to work on the controversial issues and develop coordination. India’s neighbourhood first policy and Maldives India’s first approach will play an important role in improving the relations.
