India-Maldives row is getting worse. It frames the need for our country’s long neglected marine doctrine. The importance of this is evident from the fact that such a big debate is now being held in India with a population of 140 crore about a country of 5 lakh people. The tensions between India and its tiny neighbor, Maldives, simmering for over a decade, finally came to a head when three junior ministers of the island nation’s government made crude and disparaging remarks on social media about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the Lakshadweep islands.
Maldives consists of 24 main islands and 1200 smaller islands. It has been an ally of India since its independence in 1965. Relations remained good until the election of new President Mohamed Muizzu in last year's elections. As the intensions of new government, the approach of this tiny country changed over diplomatic relationships with the India. After recent conflict, Maldives President urges China to send more tourists amid row with India. Both signed the agreements of the key infrastructure deals. Muizzu also praises China's Belt & Road plan. Meanwhile, reacting on recent rift, China lectures our country to be more open minded. These statements are witnessing the intensions of those countries.
About 95 percent of the Maldivian population is Muslim. The impact of issues of minorities in India has increased the opposition to India among the Maldivians as well as the world. As a result, the parties there shifted from India to a pro-China stance. Waiting for this, China has worked to support and cooperate with the Maldives. What has finally happened is that both the ruling and opposition parties in that country have taken a pro-China stance.
Maldives is an important part of India's defence requirements. From defence to health, India has played Maldives' perfect neighbor for decades. The same friendship runs in economic matters. Other hand- Suitcase companies based in the Maldives are the ‘golden hens’ for Indian corporates in getting tax concessions. Our country set-up navy training centers there.
There is a history that in 1988, when there was an uprising with the help of Sri Lanka, it was suppressed with the help of India. In all respects, India’s relations with the Maldives have been a priority for all governments to maintain close ties as India's strategic needs are greater than those of a small country. Accordingly, India exports rice, pulses, sugar, potatoes, etc.
Despite being a small country in terms of population and territorial area, Maldives is a strategic and important friend of ours. Anyhow, our relationship with that island country is worsening. Meanwhile, China's role in this is undeniable. It was a mistake we made as a big country not to understand this in advance and repair the relationship. Somewhere we have failed to bring that tiny country on the path of diplomacy. It is clear that along with Pakistan, on the one hand, Sri Lanka, on the other hand, Nepal, Burma, and now Maldives are all are maintaining close relationship with the China.
It is no doubt that, the tourism is the main source of income for the Maldives. In 2023, around the 2, 09,198 Indian tourists visited Maldives. This number is less near about one lakh less than before Corona visitors. A similar number of 2, 09,146 tourists landed from Russia. With the economic crisis and instability in Sri Lanka, the Russians turned to the Maldives. There were also 1, 87,118 Chinese visitors. In 2022, 1.3 lakh people from China toured there, half a lakh more in a year. But, the Indian tourists are decreasing gradually.
Official data shows that tourist arrivals from India to the Maldives have been declining over the past few years. This is what has happened so far. However, behind these developments, the internal politics of the tiny island nation are intertwined. Moreover, there is an influence of politics in our neighboring countries. Maldivian President Mohamed Meizu is on a visit to China. In fact, every president who came to power there used to come to India first. And then they tour to another country. After assuming power as president, Mohammed Meizu, reversed the tradition. Soon after he came to power, he first went to Turkey and then to Dubai. Later he visited Delhi. After India tour, he went Beijing. It is understandable that the Maldivian government is acting under the influence of China. One of the reasons for China's concern could be India's moral support to Tibet, which is like a bulwark on China's side. It is for this reason that the Chinese government is supporting Pakistan in every possible way. We are facing challenges. Now the Maldives is being used by China.
