INDIA-MALDIVES RELATIONS

India-Maldives Relations: External Affairs Minister of India had visited the Maldives during her two days visit from 18th to 19th March 2019.

About

• The Maldives has reaffirmed its “India-First Policy”.

• The trip is the first full-fledged bilateral trip from India to the Island nation after the government of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih came to power in November 2018.

• The Maldivian government has expressed commitment to support India’s efforts to combat terrorism, particularly cross-border terrorism, and crimes such as piracy, organized crime, narcotic drugs and human trafficking.

• Insights of the meeting:
– The two Government’s agreed on the importance of maintaining peace and security in the Indian Ocean Region and to strengthen coordination in enhancing regional maritime security.
– The Maldivian side expressed its support for India’s candidature for permanent membership of UNSC.
– The Maldivian side also reiterated support for India’s candidature for a non-permanent seat for 2020-21.
– India and the Maldives signed three agreements:
1. On exemption from visa requirement for holders of diplomatic and official passports.
2. Regarding Indian grant assistance for implementation of high-impact community development projects through local bodies.
3. On collaboration in the field of energy efficiency and renewable energy.

India-Maldives relations

Background
• The Maldives is located south of India’s Lakshadweep Islands in the Indian Ocean.

• India was one of the first nations to recognize Maldives’ independence.

• India and Maldives officially and amicably decided their maritime boundary in 1976.

• Since then, India and Maldives have developed close strategic, military, economic and cultural relations.

• India has supported Maldives’ policy of keeping regional issues and struggles away from itself.

Development of bilateral relations

• Both nations are founding members of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), the South Asian Economic Union and signatories to the South Asia Free Trade Agreement.

• Operation Cactus: It was an attempt by a group of Maldivians led by Abdullah Luthufi and assisted by armed mercenaries of a Tamil secessionist organization from Sri Lanka, the People’s Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE), to overthrow the government in the island republic of Maldives on 3rd November 1988. The coup d’état failed due to the intervention of the Indian Army, whose military operations efforts were code-named Operation Cactus.

• Drinking-water crisis in Malé: Maldives urged India for help following the collapse of the island’s only water treatment plant, India came to rescue by sending its heavy lift transporters like C-17 Globemaster III, II-76 carrying bottled water.

• The humanitarian relief efforts by the Indian side was widely appreciated in Malé across all sections of people even the Vice-President of Maldives thanked the Indian ambassador for swift action.

• The current situation between India and the Maldives:
– India stands ready to work with the Maldives to strengthen maritime security and help   expedite the inclusion of its Indian Ocean neighbour in the Commonwealth again.
– India invites the country to join the International Solar Alliance.