just have offered India the right opportunity. Maldives is also a member of SAARC. It is important for India to have Maldives on board to maintain its leadership in the region. Maldives was the only SAARC country which seemed reluctant to follow India’s call for boycott of SAARC summit in Pakistan after the Uri attack India is also preferred destination for Maldivians for education, medical treatment, recreation and business.
According to MEA, more and more Maldivians are seeking long term visa for pursuing higher studies/medical treatment in India. Under Yameen, radicalization grew rapidly and it was often said that the archipelago accounted for one of the highest numbers of foreign fighters in Syria in terms of per capita. India can ill-afford a neighbor which fails to check Islamic radicalization. ( SAARC factor SAARC has a special importance for India because it includes all of India’s neighbors but China.
Of late, China has been creating inroads into SAARC countries which is reducing India’s influence in the bloc, for example Pakistan’s CPEC, China’s Hambantota port etc. and Maldives could be China’s next destination. Recent development in India- Maldives relations: India and Maldives relations have seen many ups and downs caused by changing political situations in both countries and some external factors. During Maldivian Presidential elections in Abdulla Yameen defeated Mohamed Nasheed to become the President.
During Yameen’s term, Maldives relations with India deteriorated while its closeness with China increased, which is highlighted by: Cancellation of GMR project, : Maldives annulled the $ million contract with GMR Group to develop a modern International Airport near Male, which was given to a Chinese company. Cancellation of Indian PM’s trip, :Due to turbulent political situation in Maldives, Indian PM cancelled his trip to Maldives. China Maldives FTA, : China and Maldives signed an FTA, which is China’s second FTA with a South Asian country after Pakistan, while there is no FTA between India and Maldives. Joint patrolling with Pakistan, :During Pakistan’s Army Chief’s visit, Maldives announced joint patrolling with Pak