Maldives President Faces Criticism Over Sudden Diplomatic Shift Towards India
New Delhi, 9th October 2024: Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu, currently visiting India, has faced criticism from both the Maldivian opposition and social media users in both countries for his abrupt warming of relations with New Delhi. Opposition leaders claim that Muizzu’s “naive and inexperienced” administration has come to realize that diplomacy cannot be built on “lies and deceit.”
Muizzu, perceived as pro-China, came into power last November after running a strong ‘India Out’ campaign. Upon assuming office, he requested the withdrawal of Indian military personnel from three bases in the Maldives. Subsequently, around 90 Indian troops were pulled out as part of a mutual agreement on May 10.
Abdulla Shahid, president of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), expressed satisfaction at the revival of the longstanding ties between the Maldives and India. He thanked India for its unwavering support to the Maldivian people.
Shahid criticized the current administration, stating, “What we are witnessing is an acknowledgement that international relations cannot be conducted through deceit. This reflects the administration’s inexperience in diplomacy.” He also expressed hope that projects initiated during the tenure of pro-India President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih would continue to thrive.
Former Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed echoed Shahid’s views, noting that India and the Maldives are natural partners. He expressed happiness over the recent developments, suggesting that the relationship has been restored. “India and the Maldives share commonalities in music, films, food, culture, history, and geography. It’s heartening to see things align and the relationship strengthened,” Nasheed tweeted.
MDP Chairperson Fayaz Ismail criticized Muizzu’s previous anti-India stance, claiming it led to significant economic and political repercussions. He called for accountability among the administration’s leaders for the damage caused during that period. “Muizzu’s inflammatory comments and unnecessary alienation of our closest ally have come at great economic and political cost, jeopardizing our financial recovery efforts,” he tweeted.
Tensions between the two countries intensified when three Maldivian officials made derogatory remarks about Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi after he visited Lakshadweep in January. This controversy led to a boycott of Maldives by several Indian tourists, causing a drop in its tourism ranking from first to sixth place in mid-2024.
In response, Muizzu suspended the officials involved and later saw two of them resign before he visited India. Amidst a financial crisis, India has provided crucial budgetary support to Muizzu’s government, rolling over a USD 50 million Treasury Bill for another year.
During his visit to Delhi, Muizzu met with President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, PM Modi, and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. A ‘vision document’ released after bilateral discussions outlined India’s commitment to support the Maldives with defence platforms and enhance the capabilities of the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF).
In an interview, Muizzu stated that his country’s ‘Maldives First’ policy would not affect its longstanding relationship with India, particularly concerning security interests. His sudden shift in diplomatic stance sparked discussions on social media, where many users labelled him as “hypocritical” for his previous rhetoric against India.
One social media user remarked, “It’s now clear that #IndiaOut was a deceitful campaign used by Muizzu to gain votes while spreading falsehoods about Ibu’s presidency. Now he seems to be imitating Ibu’s leadership style.” Another user added, “You don’t bite the hand that feeds you—especially when it’s crucial for your country’s survival. Muizzu’s abrupt change from disdain to admiration for India is quite hypocritical.”
Muizzu is on his inaugural state visit to India from October 6 to 10.
