Thursday, 12 July 2018

SSB GD Series: MALDIVES - INDIA'S Lost Friend?


India and Maldives both countries was having very friendly relations with each other. Both were cooperating each others in the field of defense, maritime security, food items, Medicines etc and also male was following the look India first policy .
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But recently due to some decision relations are soaring day by day . Recent moves by the president Abdulla Yammen have put male on Collision with New Delhi. India has recorded its protest for jailing the former president Mr Gayyom and Chief justice Mr.Abdulla for conspiring to unseat the President Yammen. India has called this as Shameful act and also raised concern over the fair presidential elections.

India relation with Maldives have been frayed for some time and particularly since 2012 when democratically elected president was deposed by force and Abdullah yammen become the president in 2013 after a highly controversial and dubious election .since then Maldives has progressively warmed up his ties with china .This started with the cancellation of the Indian company GMR contract for building the male airport and awarding it to china during Chinese president Xi jinping visit to Maldives in 2015.

During Yammen regime Maldives has leased out several islands to china which can be used for Chinas string of pearls strategy to encircle India and reduce its influence in Indian Ocean.
Some suggestions have been made that India should repeat operation cactus of 1988 through which it restored president gayoom to office when Maldives confronted a coup attempt by some missionaries 
There are series of incidents that has taken the relations of both countries to low level:

1.PM Modi cancelled his visit to Maldives due to security reason in the island nation, as emergency was imposed by Maldives President
2. India soft corner for Ex President Mr Nasheed ,who took exile in Indian embassy when he was convicted by top court of Maldives for terrorism and other activities.
3. Maldives has not approved the lease of Indian helicopter and the man flying them till June 18
4. Maldives denied the visa extension to the Indians working in schools hotels, hospitals
Recently, Maldives electricity generation company STELCO visited Pakistan for the signing the capacity building agreement with Pakistan.

As the relations between the two countries has soared but the relationship between china and Maldives Has flourished. Maldives has signed FTA with china which India was expecting to sign first.China even till 2011 was not having embassy in Maldives has flooded the island nation with the investment and tourist. 
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There are so many Chinese nationals that are visiting the island nation.
1.830 million dollar upgrade for the airport, including 1.3 mile bridge to link the airport
2. 25 Story building and a hospital with the state of art infrastructure
3. Lease of unhabitated island Feydhoo for 50 years for building and developing it as the tourist spot

The strategic significance of Maldives for India has been growing over last may years .In addition to growing influence of china in the country ,Maldives has been getting radicalized and coming under the influence of fundamentalist wahhabi ideology. Islamic state and lashker e taiba are also reported to have established bases in country. Several hundred young men and women have deserted their homes to fight for the IS in Syria and Iraq.

As the India relation is deteriorating with Maldives India will need to employ a graduated approach in dealing with the evolving situation. It will also need to be in regular and constant touch with its international partners including USA EU and other countries. Yammen appears to have adopted hostile attitude because he might be feeling confident about china support. As he is sure that no military action will be taken against him but unknowingly he is taking the country in to the debt trap of china by allowing china with his funding.

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What do you as the youth of India think on this situation? Share your views here in comments and let the discussion flow. Keep reading SSB Vision for latest updates.




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About the Author:

Deepak Manhas is from Pathankot Punjab. Presently working in automobile industry as an Engineer. His aim is to join armed forces and nowdays preparing for it with full enthusiasm and confidence


1 comment:

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