India Maldives

He agreed to open an Indian consulate and endorsed an India-funded military harbor -- projects he previously opposed as they allegedly threatened Maldivian sovereignty.

Malé is hoping for a bailout from New Delhi after credit rating agencies downgraded the country’s debt over a high risk that it could default on an Islamic bond.

The visit of Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar to Malé marked the renewal of traditionally close ties that soured in the early days of President Muizzu’s administration.

With his People’s National Congress gaining a supermajority in parliament, the pro-China tilt in Muizzu's foreign policy will become more pronounced.

Maldivian President Muizzu has called for the removal of Indian military personnel from the archipelago and has threatened to review agreements with India.

Indian National Security Adviser Ajit Doval’s history with the island nation and the Rajapaksa brothers is worth keeping in mind.

Expanding economic cooperation is an important part of the deepening India-Maldives bond. Yet it is the military component of the relationship that is the target of the Maldivian opposition so far.

The Indian foreign secretary’s visit to the Maldives is to follow up on India’s deepening commitments in the island nation.

New Delhi’s growing willingness to work with external actors in the Indian Ocean could also create inadvertent complications.