The United States is seeking to strengthen its partnership with the Indian Ocean island nation of Maldives. The new government of the Maldives is leaning towards China and distancing itself from its long-time ally India. However, India is a crucial regional partner for the United States in countering China in the Indo-Pacific region.
According to reports from Reuters, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Maldives Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer on Tuesday (June 25th) and stated that Washington is seeking to establish a deeper partnership with the Maldives.
Blinken told Zameer, “The Maldives is an important partner for us, and we want to ensure that we become a good partner for the Maldives.”
“We are working together to ensure that we have a free and open Indian Ocean-Pacific region. We are jointly tackling the challenges brought by climate change… We are working together to ensure that we have a secure maritime space and fundamentally work together to create a prosperous future for our peoples.”
The two sides discussed ways and measures to enhance cooperation in addressing the climate crisis, promoting economic growth, and maritime security. Zameer expressed gratitude for the high-level exchanges with the United States since the new Maldivian government took office.
Zameer said, “I look forward to establishing a productive relationship with the United States, as I believe our past governments have done the same. Therefore, we will continue to work together.”
A statement from the U.S. State Department announced that Blinken pledged to donate eight patrol boats to the Maldives and plans to provide $2 million in hydrological assistance to help mitigate the effects of rising sea levels.
Situated in the Indian Ocean, the Maldives is located near India and Sri Lanka, spanning important east-west shipping routes. This luxury resort destination known for its white sandy beaches and overwater villas has become a hotspot of geopolitical competition between India and China due to its strategic geographic location.
In response to China’s expanding regional influence, the United States established an embassy in the Maldivian capital of Malé in 2023 to strengthen ties with this low-lying archipelago of around 500,000 people.
In September of last year, 46-year-old Mohamed Muizzu, acting as a proxy for the pro-China former President Abdulla Yameen, won the elections. In April of this year, his party secured a landslide victory in parliamentary elections.
In 2021, India deployed 75 soldiers to assist the Maldives in the operation and maintenance of three patrol aircraft gifted by India. The day after Muizzu took office, he requested India to withdraw its troops. In May of this year, India announced that civilian personnel had replaced the military presence.
Meanwhile, Muizzu has been forging closer ties with China. In January of this year, just three months into his presidency, he made an official visit to Beijing, becoming the first Maldivian president to visit China before India after taking office.
In February, a Chinese scientific research vessel arrived in the Maldives, only three months after a similar research ship visited the Indian Ocean region. India is increasingly concerned that data collected by such vessels may be used for military purposes.
In April, amidst legislative elections, Muizzu awarded several controversial infrastructure contracts to Chinese state-owned enterprises, sparking controversy.
In December 2017, China and the Maldives signed a bilateral trade agreement, joined China’s Belt and Road Initiative, and allowed significant Chinese investment in the country. This shift has been described by Indian media as China entering India’s backyard.
In February of this year, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) warned the Maldives that due to its sizable debts to China, the country faces a high risk of falling into a “debt trap.” Voice of America (VOA) cited data from the World Bank indicating that the Maldives owes China $1.37 billion, approximately 40% of the country’s public debt, making Beijing the Maldives’ largest bilateral creditor.