India To Reach Out To Maldives As Pro-China Muizzu Comes To Power
<p><strong>India-Maldives Relations:</strong> India has decided to “soon” reach out to the new dispensation in Maldives as pro-China candidate Mohamed Muizzu emerged victorious this Sunday in the presidential polls, neatly defeating his predecessor and pro-India Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, ABP LIVE has learnt. </p> <p>Much to New Delhi’s security concerns, Muizzu’s presidential campaign has been hooked on anti-India sloganeering and messages. He leads a party that had obtained large scale loans from China when they were in power previously. It was his party, then helmed by President Abdulla Yameen, that gave an entry to China’s Belt and Road Initiative into the Indian Ocean island nation. </p> <p>New Delhi, which has been investing heavily in the strategically located atoll since 2018 when Solih came to power, has activated all its back-channels and diplomatic channels to establish a working relationship with Muizzu, top sources told ABP LIVE. </p> <p>The results have indeed come as a shock to India that was almost sure that Solih will be coming to power with his ‘India first’ policy. <a href="https://ift.tt/9G6OYCh" target="_blank" rel="noopener">India had taken centre stage</a> this time during the presidential elections in Maldives. </p> <p>As the elections results came in, Muizzu told reporters in Male: “Today, the people made a strong decision to win back Maldives independence.” He was seen to be indirectly referring to India’s growing influence in that country and the purported presence of its military. </p> <p>Prime Minister Narendra Modi was one of the first world leaders to congratulate Muizzu. “India remains committed to strengthening the time-tested India-Maldives bilateral relationship and enhancing overall cooperation in the Indian Ocean region,” he <a href="https://ift.tt/B2C1s8y" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. </p> <p><a href="https://ift.tt/9G6OYCh" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>ALSO READ | Maldives Elections: How India Got Dragged Into Malé Political Scene</strong></a></p> <h3><strong>India-Maldives Relations</strong></h3> <p>India had continued to provide indirect support to President Solih by helping him with grants and aid in developing some of the mega connectivity projects in that country as well as providing the government with defence items. </p> <p>Solih came to power in Maldives after his predecessor Yameen, from the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), was ousted. Yameen, charged with corruption and embezzlement, is serving a jail sentence. </p> <p>Yameen had pushed Maldives directly into China’s embrace by allowed Beijing entry into some of their key infrastructure projects that resulted in the tiny island nation incurring heavy debt.</p> <p>This time, the PPM joined hands with the Progressive National Congress (PNC) to field Muizzu as their preferred presidential candidate with Yameen barred from contesting the elections. President Solih was even accused of “compromising the country’s sovereignty” while allowing India to have its military base and the presence of personnel from armed forces there.</p> <p>Yameen, who has encouraged anti-Indian sentiments in that country, is currently imprisoned so he cannot contest the elections. Under his direction, several of his party people have been carrying out an ‘India Out’ campaign since last year, adding to New Delhi’s concerns.</p> <p>Muizzu has also asked Solih to release Yameen from jail while the latter continues to be the President. Muizzu will officially takeover the new role on November 17. </p> <p>India helped Maldives by sending millions of vaccines, masks, hazmat suits during the peak of Covid pandemic. In terms of security, it was due to India’s efforts that Maldives joined the Indian Ocean Rim Association. The island is also part of trilateral dialogue with Sri Lanka that is spearheaded by the National Security Advisors.</p> <p>In 1988, India, then under Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, had helped Maldives survive its biggest coup after being requested by then Maldivian President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, under Operation Cactus. </p> <p>Under Modi, India has given aids and grants to that country to develop its infrastructure ans facilitated mega connectivity programmes.</p> <p><strong><a title="ALSO READ | Destabilising Maldives Interest Of Countries Eyeing Control Over Indian Ocean: Abdulla Shahid" href="https://ift.tt/jhiID1w" target="_blank" rel="dofollow noopener">ALSO READ | Destabilising Maldives Interest Of Countries Eyeing Control Over Indian Ocean: Abdulla Shahid</a></strong></p>
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