Relations Between India & Maldives

India-Maldives Relations

The Maldives holds strategic importance for India due to its location in the Indian Ocean. President Abdulla Yameen had aligned himself with China, violating India’s security interests. The relations between the two countries was strained under the pro-China regime of their former President Abdulla Yameen. Here’s all you need to know about the Maldives and how India’s ties with it have changed.

Geo-Strategic Importance of Maldives to India

Considering the fact that the Maldives is situated in the center of the world’s busiest shipping lanes, which accounts for almost 90 percent of global trade annually, its geostrategic location acts as a life force to numerous countries on earth economically and strategically. Its strategic location defines the geo-strategic importance of Maldives far beyond its physical size, which can be reflected as the following:

1. The Maldives is located in the southern and northern parts of this island chain lies the two important sea lanes of communication (SLOCs). These SLOCs are critical for maritime trade flow between the Gulf of Aden and Gulf of Hormuz in West Asia and the Strait of Malacca in Southeast Asia.
2. With the maritime trade routes through the Strait of Hormuz coming under the threat, the focus of international competition in the Indian Ocean has increasingly shifted to the east. It is in this context that we will discuss the geopolitical importance of the Maldives for India, and highlight its role as a tactical counter. The success achieved with regard to China’s strategic interests in the Maldives will play a vital role in shaping India’s approach towards further creating favorable conditions for pursuing its larger regional and global interests.

3.       It is believed that, a favorable and positive maritime environment in the Indian Ocean is essential for the fulfillment of India’s strategic priority. India continuously aims at promoting an ever-expanding area of peace, stability, and prosperity around it. However, the security of the Indian Ocean has to be constantly maintained through a balance of power in which no single country dominates the rest.

Cooperation between India & Maldives

Security Cooperation: A crucial aspect of security cooperation between India and Maldives from the earliest days has been the promotion of shipping safety. The two countries have also cooperated in fighting crime, improving public health, combating drugs, disaster response and environmental protection.

Disaster Management: The Indian Coast Guard provides the majority of assistance to the Maldives with maritime rescue services. This has involved the provision of patrol boats and men for these duties by India. The assistance began when two high-speed interceptor boats were provided by India in exchange for training facilities in Indian waters to house and train a specialized force whose primary objective was counter-terrorism on Maldivian soil.

People To People Contact: India and Maldives have an extremely close relationship, based largely on people to people contacts. The two countries share a vibrant maritime history. In recent years, there has been a greater flow of patients from the Maldives to India, leading to an increased exposure to each other’s culture and way of life.

Economic Cooperation: There exists extensive economic cooperation between the Maldives and India. Maintaining an amicable relationship is vital to economic development. India's concern over the security of the Malacca's has fuelled offers for economic aid and the gradual growth of Indo-Maldivian trade.