India-Maldives Relations

You are here

Home
  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Email
  • Whatsapp
  • Linkedin
  • Print

    • Implications of Political Dissonance in the Maldives

    The domestic politics of the Maldives might significantly change if the position of the MDP government weakens. It might change the flavour of India–Maldives bilateral relationship and will also have an impact on the security environment in the Indian Ocean region.

    Anand Kumar
    August 13, 2021

    Narendra Shekhawat asked: What is the geo-strategic importance of Maldives to India?

    Abhay Kumar Singh replies: Strategic geography defines the geo-strategic importance of Maldives far beyond its physical size. Despite being the smallest Asian country with a land area of just 300 sq. km. and a population of around 480,000, Maldives is one of the world’s most geographically dispersed countries straddling a 960-km-long submarine ridge running north to south and which forms a wall in the middle of the Indian Ocean.

    Maldives Needs Help Now and India Alone Can Provide it

    India-Maldives Relations

    Not intervening at this stage would be viewed by the people of Maldives as an abdication of responsibility by India.

    Rumel Dahiya
    February 09, 2018

    The Maldivian Crisis: What Can India do?

    India will be able to help and support only to the extent that the demand for democracy and freedom from within Maldives continues to put pressure on Yameen and his security forces.

    Ashok Sajjanhar
    February 08, 2018

    Multi-party Democracy in the Maldives and the Emerging Security Environment in the Indian Ocean Region

    Multi-party Democracy in the Maldives and the Emerging Security Environment in the Indian Ocean Region
    • Publisher: Pentagon Press

    Maldives is the smallest country of South Asia. But its significance is no less because of its crucial geo-strategic location in the Indian Ocean. It sits astride on major sea lanes of communications (SLOCs). However, the crucial geo-strategic location of the Maldives has also caused problems for the country as it has aroused interests of major world powers.

    • ISBN 978-81-8274-895-8,
    • Price: ₹. 795
    • E-copy available
    Anand Kumar
    2016

    Anmol asked: What could be the effect of the current political turmoil in Maldives on India?

    Anand Kumar replies: Maldives is strategically located in the Indian Ocean. It is just about 700 km away from the southern coast of India. Hence, any political crisis in Maldives is going to have an impact on India. Presently, President Abdualla Yameen of Progressive Party of Maldives is in power. He is half brother of former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, who was the longest serving dictator of Asia. The present rule of Yameen is being contested by former president Mohamed Nasheed who is currently in jail.

    Maldives Revisited

    Maldives Revisited

    This Occasional Paper is a brief first-hand personal account of the Tevents, discussions, decisions and the action taken in November 1988 by the Government of India to provide help to the Government of Maldives to quell an attempted coup.

    Arun Kumar Banerjee

    India and Maldives: Ties Must Be Consolidated

    India and Maldives: Ties Must Be Consolidated

    President Yameen decision to visit India soon after his election in November 2013, is an indication that he wants to put India-Maldives relations on a positive track which had received a setback since President Nasheed was deposed in 2011. A notable feature of the visit was a joint declaration recognising India-Maldivian cooperation not only in the context of South Asia but also in the context of the Indian Ocean.

    Arvind Gupta
    January 13, 2014

    Amit Nayak asked: What is the future of India's political, military and economic clout in the Maldives after the GMR fiasco? Did India loose out something big?

    Anand Kumar replies: Though GMR was a private Indian company working in Maldives only to further its corporate interests, but it also symbolised the engagement of Indian business community with the Maldives. Definitely, the GMR fiasco has caused an uncertainty in the bilateral relations. Maldives had also signed a defence agreement with China while the GMR row was still on. Clearly, a much larger game is on and it is not related only to the economics of GMR running the airport in Male. It is bound to impact India’s political, military and economic ties with the Maldives.

    Manisha asked: What is the importance of Maldives for India? What has been India’s role in recent developments over there?

    Anand Kumar replies: The importance of Maldives for India can never be over-emphasised. Maldives is an important member of SAARC. It is strategically located along major sea lanes in the Indian Ocean. A significant portion of world trade takes place through the Indian Ocean. All the energy supplies coming from Gulf nations pass through this area. After the democratically elected government of Mohamed Nasheed was replaced in an alleged coup, Maldives has been facing political uncertainty. Though India wants political stability and multi-party democracy to return to the country, it has no role in the ongoing developments in Maldives.

    Pages

    Top