Bumpy Road Ahead For India In Maldives
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By Our Editorial Team
First publised on 2023-10-04 03:16:06
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The India Commentary view
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Foreign policy is normally not dependant on change of government in any country although new governments do need some fine tuning in policies. But what happens when a country elects a president whose entire campaign was based on "India Out", or throwing India out of the country or at least drastically reducing the perceived influence India has in Maldives? In a surprising turn of events, Mohamed Muizzu of the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) was elected President of the country.
Muizzu, like his senior party leader and former president Abdullah Yameen (who incidently did not contest the election this time as he is barred from contesting on corruption charges), is seen to be extremely close to China and, after accusing incumbent president Ibrahim Mohamed Solih of corruption and acting in India's interest, ran a campaign that was decidedly anti-India and pro-China.
So what does India do with Muizzu in the hot seat in Maldives? The country is closer to India than China, has strategic importance in the Indian Ocean region and India has invested heavily there. Male and Delhi have always had a close relationship that runs deep, despite the PPM pitching for China. But with China raising the stakes and making all-out efforts to win influence in countries in the Indian Ocean and Indo-Pacific region (this includes Sri Lanka and India has security agreements with both countries under the Colombo Security Conclave) in line with its expansionist policies, India will have to make efforts to both protect its interests and investments and keep its security concerns intact in Maldives.
But with President Muizzu declaring his intent to remove all "foreign troops" based in Maldives and end the country's economic enslavement (both direct assault on India's interests in the country), the road ahead is bumpy. With China backing him, it is clear Muizzu is not indulging in political posturing for domestic audience. He will slowly, but surely, work to harm India's interests and allow China entry in areas it is not present in Maldives. This will be harmful to India's long term interests. Hence, India's foreign policy establishment will have to move fast to counter China in Maldives.
