What’s The Latest Setback In Bilateral Ties? Why Did The Maldives Government Say Pilots Can’t Fly Aircraft Given By India?

The mystery behind the return of 76 Indian military troops from the Maldives was revealed over the weekend when the island nation’s foreign minister made the declaration in accordance with the February agreement the two countries had struck. A few days later, Maldives Defense Minister Ghassan Maumoon acknowledged that the military in his nation does not have enough pilots certified to operate the three Dornier planes that India had sent.

Ghassan informed the media that although a few Maldivian troops had begun flying training, none of the three Indian military-supplied aircraft were flown by Maldivian soldiers.

Our men had not finished the training because of a variety of factors, since it included passing many levels. Consequently, no one in our army at this time has a license or is completely qualified to operate the two helicopters and the Dornier aircraft, according to Ghassan, who was cited by the news site Adhadhu.com.

Reports state that the return of Indian troops took place gradually. Moosa Zameer, the foreign minister of the Maldives, had said that 26 troops had departed Gan between March 7 and March 9, then 25 had left Hanimaadhoo between April 7 and April 9, 12 had left Kadhdhoo on May 7, and the last group had gone on May 9.

Following his election in November, Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu—who is well-known for his pro-China views—requested an agreement between India and the Maldives.

Zameer confirmed that the military has been replaced by civilian personnel of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), the company that manufactures the aircraft that India has donated.

In 2020, India sent Dornier aircraft to the Maldives, an island country, to aid in improving surveillance over its exclusive economic zone and monitoring terrorists operating from the sea. During a 2016 visit to India, the then-president of the Maldives, Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom, brought up the need for Dornier.

How did tensions start?
When Mohamed Muizzu, the head of the People’s National Congress, took office in the Maldives in November 2023, the relationship soured. As a candidate for the Progressive Congress, Muizzu united his own People’s National Congress (PNC) with Yameen’s party, the People’s Party of the Maldives (PPM), which is imprisoned.

In the Maldives, Yameen spearheaded a movement known as “India Out,” which gained traction in 2021 when India and the government led by Ibrahim Mohamed Solih agreed to “develop, support, and maintain” a harbor at the Uthuru Thila Falhu naval station.

The Maldives administration, led by Mohamed Muizzu, requested that the Indian government remove its soldiers from the island country in December 2023 after the toppling of the Solih government. In addition, India was urged to cease performing hydrographic studies in the Indian Ocean archipelago’s territorial seas by the newly elected Maldivian administration.

Amid the controversy over the deputy minister’s comments suggesting that Israel controls the prime minister, the country’s embassy in Delhi subtly offered backing and advertised Lakshadweep as a travel destination. Israel’s Embassy in India posted pictures and footage of Lakshadweep.

THE MALDIVES’ RELATIONS WITH INDIA
The two countries first established diplomatic connections in 1965, when the British gave up their rule over the Maldives. Though India has maintained an ambassadorial envoy in the islands, there hasn’t been a diplomatic post in Male since 1980.

The change in ties began in 2008 and affected a number of areas, including the military, business, civic society, and politics. Maldivians began to go to India initially for medical and educational purposes throughout time.

Maritime Security and Defense: The Maldives is situated at the center of commercial sea routes that cross the Indian Ocean and is situated on the western coast of India. The Maldives is India’s principal maritime neighbor in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and has a particular position in national programs such as the Neighbourhood First Policy of the Modi administration and SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region).

According to a study by The Indian Express, India has trained the Maldives’ defense forces for around 70% of the country’s needs, either on the islands or at its top military colleges. This is one way that India has contributed to the security of the Maldives.

In the last ten years, India has trained more than 1,500 MNDF members. The Maldivian defense forces now have planes and helicopters from the Indian Navy for aerial observation, and the staff has received training from the Indian Navy in vertical landings in the islands. According to The Indian Express article, India also intends to install a coastal radar system in the Maldives in order to monitor activity in the Indian Ocean.

China: In 2009, the Maldives established an embassy there, and in 2011, China did the same. China has been courting men ever since President Xi Jinping took office. Two military agreements have been signed between China and the Maldives, according to the media. China has promised to provide the Maldives with free military support as part of one of the agreements, according to Maldivian media. The specifics of the support have not yet been made public by the Maldives Defense Ministry.

India is alarmed by China’s growing influence in the Maldives. Yameen, the former president of the Maldives, enhanced the relationship with China throughout his tenure from 2013 to 2018, but Mohamed Nasheed initiated it initially.

WHY ARE THE MALDIVES RELYING ON INDIA?
The Maldives receives daily necessities from India, including rice, spices, fruits, vegetables, and chicken. It also provides medications, including life-saving and critical care medications. The Maldives also receives basic goods from India, like cement and stones for building houses, bridges, schools, and hospitals. The 300-bed Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital is one of the main multispecialty hospitals in the Maldives, constructed by India.

Maldivian students are accommodated by India’s higher education institutions, some of whom also attend boarding schools since the Maldives lacks significant universities.

India is among the Maldives’ major commercial partners. India’s exports to the Maldives accounted for Rs 49 crore of the Rs 50 crore overall trade between India and the Maldives in 2022. In 2022, India became the second-largest trading partner of the Maldives.

India supported the Maldives after the tsunami in 2004. It provided drinking water to the city via airlift in 2014, helping Male amid the drinking water crisis. India supplied the island nation with vaccinations, masks, gloves, PPE kits, and other medications.