Will Maldives renew hydrographic survey agreement with India? 

By Shubham Kumar Srivastava

Since Mohammed Muizzu became the President, there has been a lot of bitterness in the relations between Maldives and India. Mohammad Muizzu is considered a supporter of China, due to which he is continuously working against the interests of India. Mohammad Muizzu, who speaks Chinese dialect, has also refused to renew the agreement with India for conducting hydrographic survey.

The government led by then President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih had signed an agreement with the Indian government to conduct a hydrographic survey of the underwater features of the Maldives, but the current government has refused to renew the agreement. Muizzu said that we will collect information about the characteristics of our water ourselves and prepare charts.

Indian soldiers will return by May 10

In two rounds of talks between the officials of the two countries, it was agreed to withdraw the military personnel by May 10 and send technical experts to Maldives in their place. The process of deployment of technical experts in place of military personnel is to be completed in two phases. The tension in relations between India and Maldives comes after Muizzu became the President in November 2023. The China-leaning Muizzu has asked India to recall 88 Indian troops deployed in Maldives for various tasks under the agreement.

Importance of Maldives for India

From a strategic point of view, Maldives, located to the south of India, holds immense strategic importance in the Indian Ocean, acting as a gateway to the Arabian Sea and beyond. Good relations with Maldives give India a strong position in monitoring maritime traffic in the Indian Ocean and in regional security.

Maldives is also dependent on India for essential commodities; India has been supplying everyday items including rice, spices, fruits, vegetables and medicines. India has always played the role of a good friend and rescued Maldives from crisis, be it the shortage of drinking water or providing corona vaccine during the Covid-19 pandemic. Apart from this, India has also been helping in building infrastructure of Maldives.