What is the issue?
- Maldives Foreign Secretary has summoned Indian High Commissioner to Maldives and conveyed Male’s “displeasure”.
- It comes as the latest sign of a lack of trust that has developed between India and Maldives over the last few years.
What is the recent happening?
- The reason for expression of dissatisfaction was a tweet by BJP’s Rajya Sabha MP Subramanian Swamy.
- He said India should invade Maldives if rigging of election takes place.
- The tweet included a link to a Maldivian news report.
- It related to the meeting between him and exiled former Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed.
- India's Ministry of External Affairs has clarified that it was his personal opinion.
- The Ministry also made it clear that it did not reflect Indian government's views.
Why was India-Maldives relationship strained?
- Suspicion on India's role has intensified after India expressed concern over Maldives elections.
- Maldives announced of elections without allowing democratic institutions.
- The Parliament and the judiciary were kept away from working in a free and transparent manner.
- Relations are soured, especially since President Yameen declared emergency for 45 days despite Delhi’s call for restraint.
- Notably, the exiled President Nasheed had sought India’s military intervention to release dissidents in prison.
- He called on for India to send an envoy, backed by its military, to free the judges and political detainees.
- Democracy - The Maldivian election is due in September, 2018.
- India has constantly urged Maldives to restore democracy.
- It has also demanded a “credible restoration” of political process and the rule of law before the elections are conducted.
- Given this, Swamy’s tweet is being viewed in Maldives as an indication of Indian strategy.
Why is India concerned?
- India believes it is a “responsible” power in the region.
- It also urges major powers in the world to follow “rules-based order”.
- So India would not want to play an interventionist role in Maldives elections.
- But like the western community, its priority is restoration of full-fledged democracy.
- However, for India, more than this, the geopolitical stakes in the island rank high.
- Notably, Maldives has emerged as a spot of geopolitical tussle between India and China.
- It has been carefully using its newfound proximity to China to make India wary.
- China is expanding its footprint in Maldives through the Belt and Road Initiative.
- It is also involved in building massive infrastructure in and around Malé.
- India also faces an economic challenge, with Maldives signing a Free Trade agreement with China.
Source: Indian Express