INDIA-MALDIVES RELATIONS (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – IR)
Context: Recently, the President of Maldives joined six other leaders from India’s neighborhood at the swearing-in ceremony of India's Prime Minister at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
India-Maldives Relations
- Strategic Importance: The Maldives, located just 70 nautical miles from Lakshadweep’s Minicoy Island, is strategically positioned to secure India’s maritime borders.
oLocation Between Busy Trade Routes: Maldives is positioned between the world's busiest trade routes, including the Strait of Malacca and the Suez Canal.
- Economic: Trade agreement signed between India and Maldives in 1981. India is Maldives' 4th largest trade partner.
oIndia becomes Maldives' second-largest trading partner in 2021, experiencing a 31% growth in bilateral trade despite the pandemic.
oEssential Supplies: The Maldives relies heavily on imports from India, encompassing vital sectors such as food, medicine, and aircraft for search and rescue missions.
- Defence: India offers the highest number of training opportunities for the Maldivian National Defence Force (MNDF), fulfilling approximately 70% of their defence training needs.
oRole in National Security: The Indian Army's intervention in thwarting a coup attempt in Malé in 1988 underscores the depth of military cooperation between the two nations and the enduring trust it has fostered.
- Developmental Cooperation: India implements notable development projects in the Maldives, such as the Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital, Maldives Institute of Technical Education, and the National College for Policing and Law Enforcement (NCPLE).
