Context: The visit of Foreign Secretary of India to the Maldives is significant for taking forward bilateral relations. Bilateral cooperation, especially on the economic front, has become a ‘model’ that India can adopt to make ‘Neighbourhood First’ a sustained success.

Bilateral Relations

• India and the Maldives have had bilateral relations for centuries. Technology has made connectivity easier for everyday contact and exchanges.
• Maldivian students attend educational institutions in India and patients fly here for superspeciality healthcare, aided by a liberal visa-free regime extended by India.
• Tourism is the mainstay of Maldivian economy. The country is now a major tourist destination for some Indians and a job destination for others.
• Given the geographical limitations imposed on the Maldives, India has exempted the nation from export curbs on essential commodities.
• High Impact Community Development Projects: In December 2019, India and Maldives have signed a bilateral pact on HICDP in which India had agreed to grant $5.6 million for the implementation of the project and $7 million for execution of small projects.
• Eco tourism projects: As a part of the ‘neighbourhood first’ policy of India, India has also provided a grant assistance for the development of five eco-tourism zones in Addu toll of island nation.
• Direct Ferry Service: In 2019, India and Maldives had signed MOU on Passenger and Cargo services between Kochi in India and Male/Kulhudhuffushi in Maldives.
• Submarine Cable for telecom connectivity: This project comes under the $500 million package that has been announced to Maldives. The submarine cable is also set to be renewed between India and Maldives.
• Supply of Essential Commodities: The bilateral trade agreement between India and Maldives was signed in 1981 which provides for the export of essential commodities to Maldives.

India’s helping Hand

• Through the decades, India has rushed emergency assistance to the Maldives, whenever sought.
• In 1988, when armed mercenaries attempted a coup against President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, India sent paratroopers and Navy vessels and restored the legitimate leadership under Operation Cactus.
• The 2004 tsunami and the drinking water crisis in Male a decade later were other occasions when India rushed assistance.
• At the peak of the continuing COVID-19 disruption, India rushed $250 million aid in quick time.
• India also rushed medical supplies to the Maldives, started a new cargo ferry and also opened an air travel bubble, the first such in South Asia.

India’s Aspirations in Indian Ocean

• India is the major stakeholder in the Indian Ocean region. Hence India has been seeking to regain diplomatic influence in the states that are littoral in Indian Ocean.
• Maldives thus acquires a great strategic significance in India’s aspiration at sea and the lanes of communications through the entire maritime region.
• Resource sharing on sea and on the sea-bed is another area where-in India will need the strong support of maritime neighbours and they can help India by not allowing Chinese foothold on their land.
• India thus has great challenge in the making within Indian Ocean, at the hands of China.
• Therefore, it has no choice but to remain highly pro-active and engage the littoral states constructively with itself in a multidimensional framework.
• This will certainly facilitate enhanced security and strategic concerns of India.

 Concerns for India

• Abdulla Yameen (Former President of the Maldives) was in power when the water crisis occurred. Despite early strains in relations, India rushed help on a humanitarian basis.
• Now, the Yameen has launched an ‘India Out’ campaign against India’s massive developmental funding for creating physical, social and community infrastructure, and incumbent Present President Solih’s government retaining two India-gifted helicopters and their operational military personnel.
• Maldivian protesters recently converted their demand to stop selling national assets to foreigners, implying India.
• India should be concerned about the protests as well as the occasional rumblings within the ruling in Maldives regarding India.

Road Ahead

• India needs to be aware of the structural and economic problems Maldives is facing in the present times. The first and the foremost thing is to remain true to the promises that are being made to regain the confidence in the neighbours. It has to ensure the proper implementation of the collaborative projects that have been formulated. This will certainly build strong image of India before its neighbours.
• In accordance with the “Neighbourhood First” policy of the government, India remains a committed development partner for a stable, prosperous and peaceful Maldives. However, for adherence of strategic comfort in relations, Maldives on its part should abide by its India First’ policy.