MALE: Amid a growing rift with New Delhi, Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu emphasized the nation’s commitment to independence, stating that despite its size, the Maldives would not be bullied. Muizzu’s comments followed his return from China, where he signed multiple agreements strengthening ties with the Asian powerhouse.
New Delhi has historically considered the Maldives within its sphere of influence, but the archipelago has increasingly aligned itself with China, its largest external creditor. President Muizzu, elected in September, pledged to foster “strong ties” with China and remove Indian troops from the region.
“We are not a country that is in the backyard of another country. We are an independent nation,” President Muizzu declared upon his return to Male. He stressed that the Maldives’ territorial integrity policy aligns with China’s respect for sovereignty.
During his first state visit to China this week, President Muizzu and Chinese leaders reached a “broad consensus,” as outlined in a joint communique issued on Thursday. The agreements span various sectors, including infrastructure, healthcare, livelihood improvement, renewable energy, agriculture, and marine environmental protection, according to China’s state broadcaster CCTV.
“Longstanding China-Maldives relations are built upon an exemplary model of mutual respect,” President Muizzu’s office stated.
Tensions Between Maldives and India
Tensions with New Delhi escalated when three junior ministers in Muizzu’s government reportedly made derogatory remarks about Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on social media, leading to their removal. In response, Bollywood actors and some Indian cricketers called for a boycott of the Maldives, urging citizens to choose domestic destinations for holidays.
Tourism, constituting nearly a third of the Maldives’ economy, faces potential repercussions, as Indians make up a significant portion of foreign arrivals. In a strategic move, President Muizzu announced plans to reduce reliance on India for healthcare and medicine. He outlined intentions to diversify destinations for government-paid health treatment abroad, including support for treatment in the United Arab Emirates.
Muizzu also revealed plans to diminish reliance on pharmaceutical imports from India, exploring partnerships with the United States and European nations for medicines. These developments signal a recalibration of the Maldives’ geopolitical and economic ties.
