he/she shook hands, then Muizzu came and quietly sat on the chair… Will India-Maldives relations improve?

New Delhi : Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s historic swearing-in ceremony. After Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, he/she is the second Prime Minister in the history of India who is holding power for the third consecutive time. The historic swearing-in ceremony outside the Rashtrapati Bhavan was completed with simplicity. Like the previous two swearing-in ceremonies of PM Modi, this time too, under the ‘Neighborhood First’ policy, the heads of states of India’s neighboring countries were invited. Except Pakistan, China and Afghanistan, the heads of states of all the neighboring countries were invited. President Mohammad Muizzu of Maldives came to witness this historic moment. Given Muizzu’s image of being anti-India and pro-China, it could have been possible that he/she would have sent a representative in his/her place. After all, China was not invited. But the good thing was that Muizzu showed the wisdom of respecting the invitation from India, the world’s largest democracy and a major power in Asia. he/she came to participate in the swearing-in ceremony. Reached his/her chair. There he/she shook hands with the guests around him/her and quietly sat on the chair. This is an opportunity for staunch anti-India Muizzu to take the initiative to reduce tensions in relations between the two countries.

The bilateral relations between India and Maldives have been quite strong. Since 1965, when the British colonial rule ended on this island, India and Maldives have had strong relations. The geographical location of Maldives makes it very important strategically. This island country located in the Indian Ocean serves as a gateway to the Arabian Sea. India has been a partner of Maldives in its joys and sorrows. Whenever this island country has faced any crisis, India has been the first to extend a helping hand. In 1988, when there was an attempt of coup in Maldives, the Indian Army foiled it by running Operation Cactus. When the tsunami hit in December 2004, India’s coasts were also affected, despite this, within 24 hours, India launched ‘Operation Sea Waves’ for relief and rescue in Maldives. 10 years later, when a fire broke out in Maldives’ largest water treatment plant in December 2014, India continuously supplied drinking water to this island country until the plant was restarted. After running ‘Operation Neer’, Indian ships reached Maldives with water within the first 12 hours. India also sent the necessary equipment to repair the water treatment plant. During the Corona period, India was the first to supply vaccines to Maldives, that too as a gift. Maldives has been dependent on India for its daily needs like medicines, grains, fruits, vegetables, spices. Tourism is the backbone of Maldives’ economy and India is the backbone of that tourism.

The tension in the relations between India and Maldives came when Muizzu was elected the President of Maldives last year. During the election campaign, he/she ran a venomous campaign against India. As per the agreement with Maldives, some Indian soldiers were deployed there. Muizzu gave the slogan of ‘India Out’ to send them back. After coming to power, he/she said that India will remain a close ally of Maldives. But showing the difference between his/her words and actions, he/she adopted an anti-India stance. This increased the tension in bilateral relations. This tension reached its peak when in January this year, PM Modi promoted Lakshadweep as a great tourist destination and posted some pictures and videos of his/her visit there on social media. This angered Maldives and some of Muizzu’s ill-mannered ministers made objectionable comments on PM Modi. Against this, the ‘Boycott Maldives’ campaign gained momentum in India. Since then, there has been tension in the relations between the two countries. Now Muizzu’s participation in PM Modi’s swearing-in ceremony can become an opportunity for the beginning of melting of the ice on the bilateral relations of the two countries.