An opportunity for India to regain its lost ground

In a significant shift, the Maldives’ new President wants an ‘India first’ policy

The Maldives and India appear to have struck all the right chords for a much-needed reset of the bilateral relationship as the new government headed by President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih assumed office in Male over the weekend. Mr Solih’s swearing-in was followed by a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the only head of state or government to be invited to the ceremony — a clear signal as to which way the new leadership is leaning. Mr Solih spoke of the “dire economic situation” facing the Maldives and Mr Modi assured to help the archipelago in “every possible way”.

Mr Solih wants an “India first” policy, a significant shift away from his predecessor Abdulla Yameen’s embrace of China, both for political support in the face of international condemnation of his repressive policies and for financial backing. It is the huge Chinese debt — somewhere between $1.5 and $3 billion, or almost half the country’s GDP — that will be Mr Solih’s first challenge. Then there is the issue of keeping together the multi-party alliance. Though Mr Solih enjoys the support of former president, Mohamed Nasheed, one cannot forget that Mr Yameen garnered almost 42 % of the votes in September’s election and still enjoys considerable support.

Clearly, India will be glad to regain some of the space it had been forced to cede in the Maldives because of Mr Yameen’s proChina stance. The two countries will have an opportunity to discuss issues such as the continued presence of two military helicopters and associated personnel, and the denial of work visas to hundreds of Indians in recent months. India will also have to take the lead in working with the Maldives to strengthen both Mr Solih’s government and democratic institutions.