Why is the world's smallest Muslim country, Maldives, important for India?

The Maldives is a group of 1,200 islands. Geographically, it is considered the most dispersed country in the world. Traveling from one island to another typically requires a ferry.

The Maldives has a population of only 521,000 people.

• It gained full political independence from Britain in 1965.
• Three years after independence, it became a constitutional Islamic republic.
• In 2008, Islam was declared the state religion of Maldives.
• It is the smallest Islamic country in the world.

On 26 July, the Maldives is celebrating its 60th Independence Day, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been invited as the chief guest. This is PM Modi’s third visit to the Maldives.

After Mohamed Muizzu became President in 2023, Narendra Modi is the first foreign leader to visit the Maldives.

Muizzu’s rise to power was partly supported by anti-India sentiment.
The previous Maldivian government followed an "India First" policy, but Muizzu vowed to end it and deepened ties with China instead.

According to Reuters, when India helped the Maldives avoid defaulting in its $7.5 billion economy, Muizzu softened his stance toward India.
After becoming President, Muizzu visited Turkey, the UAE, and China first, and only later initiated steps to reduce tensions with India.

Why is a small country like the Maldives, with a modest $7.5 billion economy, important to India?

1. Strategic Location of the Maldives

The Maldives’ location is what makes it strategically important. It lies close to major maritime routes in the Indian Ocean.

• These routes are essential for international trade.
• India’s energy imports from Gulf countries travel via these routes.
• A strained relationship with the Maldives could jeopardize India's maritime security.

Hence, the Maldives plays a vital role in:

• Global trade routes
• India’s economic and strategic interests
• India’s energy security
• Maritime surveillance efforts, where Maldives' cooperation is crucial.

2. Geographic Proximity to India

• The Maldives is very close to India — only 700 km from Lakshadweep and 1,200 km from mainland India.
• If China establishes a naval base in the Maldives, it could pose a major security threat to India.
• This would make it easier for China to reach India during a conflict.
• China already has multiple projects in the Maldives and is suspected of planning to build a naval base there.

3. China's Growing Presence

• Maldives has signed a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with China.
• It openly supports and participates in China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
• India views the Greater Malé Connectivity Project, funded by India, as a counter to China’s influence.

China is also building the $200 million China-Maldives Friendship Bridge.
In January 2024, Muizzu visited China, and 20 bilateral agreements were signed.

According to India’s National Security Annual Review 2018,

• On 27 December 2016, the Maldives leased Feydhoo Finolhu, an uninhabited island near Malé Airport, to China for 50 years for $4 million.
• The 2016 Maldivian law removed auction requirements for new projects, seen as a move to facilitate Chinese investments.

China aims for a military presence in the Arabian Sea to secure oil supplies from the Persian Gulf, while India wants to prevent the Maldives from becoming a Chinese outpost.

4. President Muizzu’s Stance on India

In March 2023, Muizzu declared:

“After May 10, there will be no Indian military presence in any form in the Maldives—whether in uniform or civilian dress. I say this with full confidence.”

In his January 2024 visit to China, Muizzu indirectly criticized India, saying:

“The Maldives may be a small country, but that doesn’t give anyone a license to bully us.”

India’s Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar responded,

“A country that provides $4.5 billion in aid does not bully others.”

5. Anti-India Sentiment

India considers the Maldives important because of prevailing anti-India sentiment in parts of the country.

“Even if the Maldives doesn’t love India, it must not become a security threat to India.”

Although Modi was invited, Muizzu did so out of economic necessity, not out of preference.
Public opinion in the Maldives still leans against India, and Muizzu capitalized on this to win elections.

Muizzu's outreach to India is more compulsion-driven than genuine diplomacy.

India has historically helped the Maldives:

• In 1988, PM Rajiv Gandhi sent troops to protect President Abdul Gayoom's government.
• In 2018, when the Maldives faced a drinking water crisis, India airlifted water supplies to help.

Conclusion:
Despite being small in size and economy, the Maldives holds great strategic significance for India in terms of geopolitics, maritime security, energy routes, and regional influence, especially as China expands its footprint in the Indian Ocean.