Eye on China, Delhi seeks to boost Male ties, offers aid package

NEW DELHI: As PM Narendra Modi hosted Maldivian President Ibrahim Solih Tuesday, the 2 countries reiterated their assurance to be mindful of each other’s security concerns and, according to a joint statement, to not allow their respective territories to be used for any activity inimical to the other. This is important in the context of efforts by China to increase its footprints in the region despite recent setbacks, most notably in the neighbouring Sri Lanka with the departure of the Rajapaksas.
Identifying trans-national crime, terrorism and drug trafficking in the Indian Ocean as serious threats, Modi called for close contact and coordination between India and Maldives in defence and security for ``the peace and stability of the entire region’’. The PM announced that India will provide 24 vehicles, second Landing Craft Assault (LCA) and another naval boat to the Maldives security forces and that India will also cooperate in building police facilities in 61 islands of the Maldives.
India and the Maldives also signed 6 agreements, with the former announcing another $ 100 million LoC for financing projects in the archipelago, as Solih reaffirmed Maldives’ commitment to India First policy and Modi said India will continue to act as the first responder in any crisis faced by the country.
The 2 leaders also formally inaugurated work on the $ 500 million Greater Male connectivity project, the largest infrastructure project ever undertaken in the country, which is being financed by India under grant and concessional loan support.
As expected, they condemned terrorism in all its forms and called for enhanced coordination between the security agencies of the two countries to thwart radicalisation, violent extremism, terrorism and narco-trafficking, according to the joint statement. ``While acknowledging progress since the First Meeting of the Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism held in April 2021, the two leaders directed the officials to further strengthen cooperation in various areas, including cyber- security,’’ said the statement.
Asked about the India Out campaign being carried out by the opposition led by former president and pro-China leader Abdulla Yameen, India’s high commissioner to the Maldives Munu Mahawar said there’s a genuine desire on the part of the Maldivian people to further strengthen the relationship and that this campaign was based on ``misinformation and false propaganda’’.
The Indian government has also been following reports of infighting in the ruling MDP between forces aligned with former president Mohamed Nasheed and Solih. While India doesn’t want to get embroiled in any antagonism between the 2, it also doesn’t want it to fester.
The 6 agreements signed were related to fishing zone forecast capacity building, cyber security, capacity building of women development committees, disaster management, police infrastructure and social housing units.
The joint statement said that the India-Maldives defence and security partnership is time-tested and is the leading example of regional cooperation in the areas of transnational crimes and disaster relief. ``This partnership is a force for stability in the Indian Ocean Region. Recognizing that the security of India and the Maldives are inter-linked, the two leaders reiterated their assurance to be mindful of each other’s concerns on the security and stability of the region; and to not allow their respective territories to be used for any activity inimical to the other,’’ it said.