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Malé

Maldives First

Maldives President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s pursuit of a balanced foreign policy is not without obstacles.

By Daniyal Talat | April 2024


The Maldives, located in the Indian Ocean, has long been where internal politics and foreign relations are inextricably linked, influencing the country’s growth trajectory. Since attaining independence from Britain in 1965, the Maldives has pursued a foreign policy based on the ideals of sovereign equality, non-interference, and diplomatic problem-solving, cultivating cordial relations with countries across the world.

However, the situation has shifted in recent years, with economic problems, geopolitical conflict, and new leadership affecting the country’s foreign policy. Economic success, powered chiefly by its thriving tourist sector, has been a pillar of Maldives’ growth, contributing considerably to government revenue.

Nonetheless, the country has faced economic issues resulting from global market changes, health catastrophes like the COVID-19 pandemic, and the impending threat of climate change. In the face of these problems, the Maldives has become more reliant on foreign funding to maintain its growth pace, resulting in rivalry among big donors to become the country’s preferred partners in massive infrastructure projects.

China’s strategic participation is central to this struggle, and it has made significant investments in important infrastructure projects in the Maldives. While these initiatives offer local advantages, such as constructing the first ocean bridge connecting Malé to other islands, they have also raised regional concerns, notably in neighbouring India. India, a long-standing friend of the Maldives, has expressed concern about China’s rising influence in the area, fearing a shift in the balance of power that may jeopardise its strategic interests.

The Maldives’ foreign policy environment has shifted dramatically as successive administrations struggle to balance domestic interests and regional factors. Former President Abdulla Yameen had a China-centric policy, embracing Chinese investment despite widespread worries about debt and suspected corruption. In contrast, his successor, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, pursued the “India-First Policy,” which aimed to deepen ties with India and get funding for infrastructure projects. However, widespread dissatisfaction with unfinished projects and alleged Indian intervention in internal matters contributed to Solih’s electoral loss in 2023. Amid these upheavals, the Maldives is led by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, who took office in November 2023.

Muizzu ran his campaign on a platform of strong promises and slogans, such as “India out,” which claimed that hundreds of Indian soldiers were stationed across the Maldives. Asserting that the previous government was complicit in handing over a significant portion of the southern economic zone to Mauritius, another pledge was to reclaim what was believed to be Maldivian territorial waters that Mauritius had taken; in reality, this was the outcome of an International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea (ITOLS) ruling that gave the Maldives a larger share of the disputed maritime area. It was said that a letter written by President Salih to the President of Mauritius led to this agreement.


The election slogan “India-out” by Muizzu significantly strained India’s hitherto cordial ties with the Maldives. In X postings that went viral, three Deputy Ministers nominated by President Muizzu also denigrated Indians and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. When these three Deputy Ministers—suspended later but not fired—reacted badly to PM Modi’s X tweets promoting the Indian Lakshadweep islands, located north of the Maldives, Indian celebrities furiously called for a boycott of Maldivian tourism.

After he took office, his first overtures to Turkey, as well as his focus on an inclusive national development strategy, aroused eyebrows, implying that conventional alliances may need to be renegotiated. However, Muizzu’s leadership understands the need to maintain good ties with established and new nations. Despite early concerns, Muizzu’s later involvement with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the United Nations COP28 summit, as well as ongoing collaborations with nations such as the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom, demonstrate a pragmatic approach to international relations.

However, Muizzu’s pursuit of a balanced foreign policy is not without obstacles. The delicate balance of conflicting interests, home goals, and external influences needs a careful approach. While pushing for mutual trust and benefit-driven diplomacy, Muizzu acknowledges the Maldives’ national security, sovereignty, and people’ rights. Muizzu’s administration believes that the Maldives are too small to get involved in geopolitical disputes with larger states. Instead, the emphasis is on creating partnerships that prioritise the country’s developmental goals while ensuring its long-term viability. With the conclusion of crucial agreements during Muizzu’s visit to China in January 2024, the Maldives is preparing for more Chinese engagement in its development projects.

The growing nexus between the Maldives’ internal politics and foreign relations exemplifies a delicate balance. As the country navigates economic problems, geopolitical competition, and shifting alliances, the aim is to design a route that protects its sovereignty, promotes its developmental goals, and ensures the well-being of its citizens in an ever-changing global scene.

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