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India – Maldives
Context:
Recently, External Affairs Minister Jaishankar wrapped up his Maldives visit, during which Maldivian President Muizzu appreciated India’s continued developmental assistance and reaffirmed his commitment to deepening the India-Maldives relationship further.
Outcomes of the Visit:
- Inauguration of India’s Line of Credit (LoC)-assisted water and sewerage network project covering 28 Maldivian islands.
- MoUs were exchanged for the capacity building of 1,000 Maldivian civil servants in India and for introducing UPI in the Maldives.
- Six High Impact Community Development Projects (HICDPs) funded by India, focusing on mental health, special education, speech therapy, and street lighting, were inaugurated.
- Additionally, the Addu Reclamation and Shore Protection Project and the Addu Detour Link Bridge Project were jointly inaugurated.
India – Maldives Relation:
Economic Relation:
- India – Maldives Bilateral Trade stands at 549 million USD with total Exports to Maldives at 543.83 million USD .
- India emerged as Maldives’ largest trade partner in 2023.
Defence and Security Cooperation:
- Capacity Building/Training:India provides the largest number of training opportunities for Maldivian National Defence Force (MNDF), meeting around 70% of their defence training requirements.
Infrastructure & Connectivity Projects:
Tourism:
- From 2021 to 2023, India remained the top source of tourists with market shares of 23%, 14.4%, and 11.1%.
- In March 2022, India and the Maldives agreed to an open skies arrangement to enhance connectivity.
Importance/ convergence in Relations:
- Geo-Economic Importance: The Maldives is strategically located along critical Indian Ocean trade routes, with 50% of India’s external trade and 80% of its energy imports passing through nearby sea lanes.
- Geo-Political Role: The Maldives partners with India in regional organisations like the Colombo Security Conclave, IORA, SAARC, and SASEC, and supports India’s bid for a permanent UNSC seat.
- Climate Change Vulnerability: Both India and the Maldives, being low-lying island nations, are highly vulnerable to climate change impacts such as rising sea levels and marine heatwaves. The Maldives is at particular risk of submergence.
- Geo-Strategic Value: The Maldives serves as a vital defence line for India, addressing threats from terrorism, piracy, drug trafficking, and maritime crime. It also acts as a crucial checkpoint in the Indian Ocean.
- Maritime Security: Maldives is a crucial ally in India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy and Vision SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region).
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Challenges in Relation:
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