Many were taken by surprise when Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen suffered a defeat in the recently-held elections in the island nation of the Indian Ocean. President-elect Ibrahim Mohamed Solih won 58 per cent of the votes of the 89.2 per cent turnout that was witnessed. It is a moment of jubilation not only for Maldives but also for Asia, which has witnessed a receding of democracy in Myanmar, Cambodia, Pakistan and Thailand.
It should also serve as a moment of reflection for India which must now re-imagine its neighbourhood first policy. In recent years, Male drifted ever closer to China under Yameen’s rule. However, now is a chance for New Delhi to reset its ties with the strategically-located island nation.
It would not be easy to draw Maldives back from China’s sphere of influence as Male still owes Beijing a large debt. India should not get into a tug-of-war with China in the island nation and instead focus on helping Maldivians fulfill their aspirations.
Today’s China does pose a strategic challenge to India in its own backyard through various diplomatic and economic engagement of these countries. From Pakistan to Myanmar and from Nepal to Sri Lanka, Beijing has invested heavily in these countries geared towards boosting their infrastructure. A critical requirement for these countries. However, the other side to all these investments is that they are piling these countries with debt.
Countries like Sri Lanka and Pakistan are already vulnerable. Maldives too would have met a similar fate. India needs to step in and make these countries aware that there are alternatives to piling debt from China.
Also, the infrastructure projects in these countries needs to be more prudent. The loss-making Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA), dubbed the world’s emptiest airport, was built at a cost of $209 and buried Sri lanka under debt which Colombo struggled to clear. India recently purchased it. All this happened while India watched silently from the sidelines.
As was the case in Sri Lanka, it will be in Maldives, when the incumbent President will leave office and the in-coming one will be left to deal with his predecessor’s legacy – mainly finding a way to pay China its loans back.
The challenge for India will be to resist the temptation of getting itself involved in the internal politics of Male. New Delhi should instead act as a guiding power and encourage the blossoming of democracy there.
Maldivian election result will definitely have far-reaching consequences in the region. It will show that China’s support to autocratic rulers is not always a full-proof strategy. Results in Male have also shown India that in the end the democratic values it espouses have a sustainable credibility in one of the world’s poorest regions.
Congratulations to Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and also to the coalition of parties that supported him. India must make sure democracy in Maldives is never disturbed again.
