Description
Maldives, a small atoll island state often termed the “toll gate” of the Indian Ocean, holds critical strategic, security, and economic importance for India. India–Maldives relations have shifted markedly, with Prime Minister Modi’s presence at the Maldives’ 60th Independence Day celebrations symbolising renewed engagement after earlier “India-out” campaigns. This recalibration reflects both Malé’s foreign policy adjustments and pressing economic vulnerabilities, including a looming US $1 billion debt repayment by 2026.
As a Small Island Developing State (SIDS), Maldives faces intertwined economic, environmental, and political vulnerabilities that shape its external alignments. This paper examines how such vulnerabilities influence foreign policy, the drivers of President Muizzu’s reorientation towards India, and the roles of the USA and China in this triangular dynamic. This study will utilise a case study approach and mixed methods, it situates Maldives within broader debates on vulnerable foreign policies of SIDS and argues that India can foster sustainable, “win-win” partnerships to stabilise and strengthen these ties.
Keywords: India–Maldives Relations, SIDS, Vulnerabilities, Indian Ocean Geopolitics, Debt Diplomacy, Strategic Partnerships.
