Pro-China President?

The Maldives and China have recently signed a defense deal, and this, along with other events in the area, highlights the growing geopolitical struggle in the Indian Ocean Area (IOR), especially between China, India, and the United States. This pact represents a change in the Maldives’ strategic orientation towards China. The action may be interpreted as a reaction to President Muizzu’s pro-Beijing sentiment and a sign of Beijing’s growing regional influence due to projects such as the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). India has strengthened its own strategic alliances and infrastructure in the IOR in response to rising Chinese influence in its traditional area of influence. India’s efforts to preserve its influence in the region are exemplified by initiatives such as commissioning the INS Jatayu naval facility and infrastructure projects in Mauritius and Sri Lanka.

To offset China’s influence in the area, the United States is also actively involved, aligning with India’s goals. As part of a larger plan to restrain China’s ascent, the U.S. seeks to reinforce its strategic ties in the IOR through projects and diplomatic visits to enhance defense and marine cooperation. Every major actor in the region is fighting for influence and control, and the situation in the Maldives reflects more considerable geopolitical tensions and power conflicts in the area. Smaller countries like the Maldives can be caught in the crossfire as opposing powers put more pressure on them and try to destabilize their political systems as the race heats up.

Under President Mohamed Muizzu, the Maldives seems to be experiencing a significant change in its foreign policy, with a special emphasis on China. This includes breaking away from its prior alignment with India and entering into a military aid deal with China. President Muizzu’s stance illustrates shifting dynamics in the area, as seen by his efforts to fortify relations with China and his “India Out” campaign pledge.

Along with getting military support from China, the departure of Indian forces from the Maldives represents a geopolitical realignment that may affect regional geopolitics. China’s increasing influence in the Indian Ocean area is consistent with its larger agenda, which includes infrastructural projects and significant funding to the Maldives. The Maldives is close to India’s western coast; thus, this move raises questions about its security interests.

Signing several agreements about commerce, infrastructure, and development projects during President Muizzu’s visit to Beijing emphasizes the strengthening ties between the Maldives and China. It’s crucial to remember, too, that China has said its cooperation with the Maldives is unaffected by outside forces and does not target any third parties. This demonstrates Beijing’s intention to depict its collaboration with the Maldives as advantageous to both parties and unrelated to damaging the interests of other regional nations.

China strengthened its defense relations with the Maldives by signing an important deal in March and providing the island nation with free military aid. This action strengthens the two countries’ bilateral relationship. The accord comes after President Mohamed Muizzu of the Maldives requested that a group of Indian military soldiers stationed there leave the country. Major General Zhang Baoqun of China’s Office for International Military Cooperation spoke with Mohamed Ghassan Maumoon, the Maldives’ Defence Minister, to strengthen defense cooperation between the two countries. The deal was signed, as stated by the Maldivian defense ministry, which highlighted China’s free military aid, which strengthens bilateral relations. The defense cooperation agreement’s terms, however, were kept a secret.

China has also sent the Maldives 12 environmentally efficient ambulances to strengthen ties between the two countries further. The letter donating the ambulances was handed by Wang Lixin, the Chinese ambassador to the Maldives, during a ceremony held at the Ministry of Health to commemorate this generosity. Shortly after the Maldives let the high-tech Chinese research vessel Xiang Yang Hong make a port call for crew rotation and replenishment, the Chinese military delegation paid a visit. In contrast, Sri Lanka refused the same ship admission, citing worries about foreign research boats in the area, especially those connected to China. China has justified its scientific research efforts in the area, claiming that they advance human understanding of the ocean and have peaceful intentions. India has confirmed that it will deploy its first civilian team of technical specialists to replace military troops operating a sophisticated light helicopter in the Maldives, coinciding with the visit of the Chinese military group. President Muizzu, thought to be pro-Chinese, has given the first wave of Indian military personnel withdrawing from the Maldives until March 10. There will be two stages to the pullout, and by May 10th, all Indian military personnel must be replaced.

The Maldives’ foreign policy has changed due to this evolution, especially regarding its ties to India. Although the bilateral connections between the two governments saw growth under the previous administration, President Muizzu’s administration has said it will evaluate more than 100 bilateral agreements that the previous administrations had inked with India. These changes have critical geopolitical ramifications because of the Maldives’ strategic closeness to India and its placement at the hub of commercial water routes in the Indian Ocean region. With the Maldives emerging as a critical location for rivalry and cooperation between China and India, these developments highlight the complex interaction of geopolitics and strategic interests in the Indian Ocean.