India-Maldives relations

The Maldives has remained one of India’s key maritime partners in the Indian Ocean neighborhood.

As Maldives looks to parliamentary and presidential elections in September 2023, the China-India choice maps neatly on to domestic political divides.

Both China and India have a stake in the drama surrounding the Maldives' upcoming presidential election.

President Solih is up against opposition parties as well as rivals within the ruling MDP.

With a proposed law to criminalize the “India Out” campaign being put in cold storage, anti-India protests will continue.

Beijing and New Delhi's jostling for influence in Maldives cannot be separated from the island nation's domestic political wrangling.

In the ongoing contest between China and India for influence, New Delhi has made some gains in the Maldives and Sri Lanka.

The Maldives has begun to realize a mutually beneficial relationship with India, and the Solih government means to maintain it despite a growing rhetoric stirring anti-India sentiments.

Indian Foreign Minister Jaishankar paid recent visits to the Maldives and Mauritius.

The nature of bilateral political relations in the Indian Ocean region has an impact on the quality of subregional engagements.

As competition intensifies in the Indian Ocean Region, India loses touch with Sri Lanka and solidifies relations with the Maldives.