Two opposition parties, the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and The Democrats, have united in denouncing the government's strong anti-India pivot amid the growing strain in relations between India and the Maldives, which was brought on by President Muhammad Muizzu's demand for the removal of Indian troops from Maldivian waters and diplomatic spats over disparaging remarks made against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The MDP and The Democrats fiercely voiced their alarm in a joint press release, calling the change in foreign policy "extremely detrimental" to the long-term prosperity of the country. The statement restated the Opposition's view that severing ties with a long-standing friend like India would be extremely detrimental to the nation's advancement.
For the Maldives' general well-being, the opposition stressed how crucial peace and security in the Indian Ocean are. In addition to highlighting the historical partnership with India, they emphasized how important it is for succeeding administrations to keep their ties with all development partners for the good of the Maldivians. A Chinese research vessel that is reportedly sailing to the Maldives has drawn attention, particularly in light of President Muizzu's most recent state visit to China. Despite assurances from the Maldives Ministry of Foreign Affairs that the government welcomes vessels from "friendly nations," worries have been expressed in New Delhi due to the historical background of comparable circumstances in Sri Lanka in 2022.
An agreement was made on January 14 between India and the Maldives to accelerate the departure of Indian military personnel from the island nation. Given the lengthy history of military cooperation between the two nations, this action is in line with Muizzu's election pledge and has raised concerns. After Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Lakshadweep and his plan to turn the area into a major beach tourism destination were disparaged by a deputy minister from the Maldives and other authorities, a major controversy broke out.
Moosa Zameer, the Minister of Foreign Affairs for the Maldives, quickly distanced the government from the derogatory comments, calling them "unacceptable" and emphasizing that they do not represent the government's official position. The event makes the emerging diplomatic situation between India and the Maldives even more difficult.
