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{{Infobox bilateral relations|India-Maldives|India|Maldives}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2014}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2016}}

[[India]] and [[Maldives]] are neighbours sharing a maritime border. Relations have been friendly and close in strategic, economic and military cooperation.<ref name="G">{{cite web |url=http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?frd/cstdy:@field(DOCID+in0176) |title=china – India relations |access-date=5 June 2008 |publisher=[[Library of Congress]] Country Studies}}</ref><ref name="CFR">{{cite web|url=http://www.himalmag.com/97mar/cov-mal.htm |title=Maldives, Sri Lanka and the "India Factor" |access-date=5 June 2008 |publisher=Himal South Asia Magazine |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080529195009/http://www.himalmag.com/97mar/cov-mal.htm |archive-date=29 May 2008 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref> [[India]] continues to contribute to [[Indian Armed Forces|maintaining security]] on the island nation.<ref name="CFR"/><ref name="VA3">{{cite book |author=Devin T. Hagerty |title=South Asia in World Politics |pages=102–103|publisher=Rowman and Littlefield |year=2005 |isbn=0-7425-2587-2}}</ref>

The financial aid provided by India exemplifies the enduring and trustworthy bond between India and Maldives. The aligned principles of India's "Neighbourhood First" and Maldives' "India First" policies have synergistically worked to protect the welfare of both nations' citizens. Moreover, this assistance serves as a testament that India remains steadfast in supporting the government and people of Maldives in the days to come.<ref>{{Cite web |title=India extends financial assistance of 100 million US dollars to Maldives |url=https://newsonair.gov.in/Main-News-Details.aspx?title=India-extends-financial-assistance-of-100-million-US-dollars-to-Maldives&id=451540 |access-date=2023-07-21 |website=newsonair.gov.in}}</ref>

== History ==
{{Main | History of Maldives | Buddhism in South Asia | Minicoy#History | l2 = Minicoy history | British raj }}

Maldives is located south of India's [[Lakshadweep Islands]] in the Indian Ocean. Both nations established diplomatic relations after the independence of Maldives from [[British Empire|British rule]] in 1966.<ref name="G"/> [[India]] was one of the first nations to recognise [[Maldives]]' independence.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Malone|first1=David M|title=Does the Elephant Dance?: Contemporary Indian Foreign Policy|date=30 August 2012 |publisher=Oxford|isbn=9780199661275}}</ref> Since then, India and Maldives have developed close strategic, military, economic and cultural relations. India has supported Maldives' policy of keeping regional issues and struggles away from itself, and the latter has seen friendship with India as a source of aid as well as a counterbalance to Sri Lanka, which is in proximity to the island nation and its largest trading partner.<ref name="CFR"/>

== Bilateral treaties and strategic partnership ==

=== 1976 Maritime treaty ===
{{anchor | Maritime | Maritime boundary | Treaty }}
{{See also | Exclusive economic zone of India | Borders of India }}

In December 1976, India and the Maldives signed a [[List of maritime boundary treaties|maritime boundary treaty]] to agree on maritime boundaries.<ref name=treat1>"India–Maldives: Agreement between India and the Maldives on Maritime Boundary in the Arabian Sea and Related Matters", in Jonathan I. Charney and Lewis M. Alexander (eds., 1998). ''International Maritime Boundaries'' (Leiden: Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, {{ISBN|978-90-411-0345-1}}) pp. 1389–1399.</ref> Treaty explicitly places [[Minicoy#Treaty|Minicoy]] on the Indian side of the boundary.<ref name=treat1/> India and Maldives officially and amicably decided their [[maritime boundary]] in 1976.<ref name="CFR"/> A minor diplomatic incident occurred in 1982 when the brother of the [[President of Maldives]] [[Maumoon Abdul Gayoom]] gave a speech that India mistook as a claim that the neighboring [[Minicoy Island]] that belonged to India were a part of Maldives; Maldives rapidly officially denied that it was laying claim to the island and explained that President Maumoon's brother had in fact been talking about the cultural connections between Maldives and Minicoy.<ref name="CFR"/>

=== 1988 Comprehensive trade agreement ===
{{anchor | Maritime | Maritime boundary | Treaty }}
{{See also | South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation | Economy of India | Economy of Maldives }}

In 1981, India and Maldives signed a comprehensive trade agreement.<ref name="C">{{cite web |url=http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?frd/cstdy:@field(DOCID+in0176) |title=Action plan to strengthen bilateral ties with Maldives |access-date=5 June 2008 |work=[[The Hindu|The Hindu Business Line]]}}</ref> Both nations are founding members of the [[South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation]] (SAARC), the [[South Asian Economic Union]] and signatories to the [[South Asia Free Trade Agreement]]. Indian and Maldivian leaders have maintained high-level contacts and consultations on regional issues.<ref name="G"/>

=== Commercial relations ===
Since the success of [[1988 Maldives coup d'état attempt|Operation Cactus]], the relations between India and Maldives have expanded significantly.<ref name="CFR"/><ref name="VA3"/> India has provided extensive [[Aid|economic aid]] and has participated in bilateral programmes for the development of infrastructure, health, telecommunications and labour resources.<ref name="CFR"/><ref name="VA3"/> It established the [[Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital]] in [[Malé]], the capital of Maldives, expanded telecommunications and air links and increased scholarships for Maldivian students.<ref name="CFR"/> While India's exports to Maldives during 2006 were worth ₹384 [[crore]], imports were worth less than ₹6 [[crore]].<ref name="C"/> The [[State Bank of India]] has contributed more than US$500 million to aid the economic expansion of Maldives.<ref name="C"/> India and Maldives have announced plans to jointly work to expand fisheries and [[tuna]] processing.<ref name="C"/>
{| class="wikitable"
|+'''India-Maldives Trade Figures(in million US$)'''<ref>{{Cite web|title=Trade Services:Trends in Bilateral Trade|url=https://hci.gov.in/male/?2600?000|url-status=live|access-date=2021-08-03|website=High Commission of india, Male}}</ref>
|-
!'''Year'''
!'''India's Exports'''
!'''India's Imports'''
!'''Total Trade'''
!'''India's Balance of Trade'''
|-
|'''2015'''
|225.82
|3.00
|228.82
|222.81
|-
|'''2016'''
|274.55
|1.55
|276.10
|273.00
|-
|'''2017'''
|282.04
|4.12
|286.16
|277.93
|-
|'''2018'''
|286.13
|3.01
|289.14
|283.12
|-
|'''2019'''
|290.27
|3.42
|293.69
|286.85
|-
|'''2020 (Jan–Feb)'''
|52.18
|0.5
|52.68
|51.68
|}

=== Military relations ===
In April 2006 [[Indian Navy]] gifted a [[Trinkat-class patrol vessel|Trinkat Class]] [[Fast attack craft|Fast Attack Craft]] of 46 m length to [[MNDF|Maldives National Defence Force]]'s [[Maldivian Coast Guard|Coast Guard]].

India started the process to bring the island country into India's security grid. The move comes after the moderate Islamic nation approached New Delhi earlier in 2009, over fears that one of its island resorts could be taken over by terrorists given its lack of military assets and surveillance capabilities.<ref name=Indmal1>{{Cite web|url = http://www.indianexpress.com/news/India-bringing-Maldives-into-its-security-net/501583|title = India bringing Maldives into its security net – Indian Express|website = www.indianexpress.com| date=13 August 2009 |access-date = 2016-03-27}}</ref> India has also signed an agreement which includes following:<ref name=Indmal1/>
* India will permanently base two helicopters in the country to enhance its surveillance capabilities and ability to respond swiftly to threats.
* Maldives has coastal radars on only two of its 26 atolls. India will help set up radars on all 26 for seamless coverage of approaching vessels and aircraft.
* The coastal radar chain in Maldives will be networked with the Indian coastal radar system. India has already undertaken a project to install radars along its entire coastline. The radar chains of the two countries will be interlinked and a central control room in India's Coastal Command will get a seamless radar picture.
* The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) will carry out regular Dornier sorties over the island nation to look out for suspicious movements or vessels. The Southern Naval Command will overlook the inclusion of Maldives into the Indian security grid.
* Military teams from Maldives will visit the tri-services Andaman Nicobar Command (ANC) to observe how India manages security and surveillance of the critical island chain.
* Ekuverin, an annual joint military exercise is held every year since 2009 between India and Maldives. The exercise aims to enhance the interoperability between the Indian Army and Maldives National Defence Force in order to effectively undertake counter-terrorism operations in urban or semi-urban environments.

==Operations and events ==
===1988 Maldives coup d'état attempt===
{{Main | 1988 Maldives coup d'état attempt}}

The 1988 Maldives coup d'état attempt was by a group of [[Maldivians]] led by businessman Abdullah Luthufi and assisted by armed mercenaries of a [[Sri Lankan Tamil|Tamil]] secessionist organisation from Sri Lanka, the [[People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam]], to overthrow the government in the island republic of Maldives. The mercenaries quickly gained control of the capital, including the major government buildings, airport, port, television and radio stations. The intervention by the [[Indian Armed Forces]], codenamed Operation Cactus, defeated the attempted coup.

The Indian paratroopers immediately secured the airfield, crossed over to Malé using commandeered boats and rescued President Gayoom. The paratroopers restored control of the capital to President Gayoom's government within hours. Some of the mercenaries fled toward Sri Lanka in a hijacked freighter. Those unable to reach the ship in time were quickly rounded up and handed over to the Maldives government. Nineteen people reportedly died in the fighting, most of them mercenaries. The dead included two hostages killed by the mercenaries. The [[Indian Navy]] frigates ''[[INS Godavari (F20)|Godavari]]'' and ''[[INS Betwa (F39)|Betwa]]'' intercepted the freighter off the Sri Lankan coast, and captured the mercenaries. The swift intervention by the Indian military and accurate intelligence successfully quelled the attempted coup d'état.<ref>{{cite web |title=Operation Cactus |url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/History/1988Cactus/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101011095022/http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/History/1988Cactus/ |archive-date=11 October 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== 2014 Malé Water Shortage Crisis (MWSC) ===

In the wake of a drinking water crisis in Malé on 4 December 2014, following collapse of the island's only water treatment plant, Maldives urged India for immediate help. India came to rescue by sending its heavy lift transporters like [[C-17 Globemaster III]], [[Il-76]] carrying bottled water. The [[Indian Navy]] also sent her ships like {{INS|Sukanya|P50|6}}, {{INS|Deepak|A50|6}} and others which can produce fresh water using their onboard desalination plants.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/maldives-water-crisis-india-transports-1-000-tonnes-of-fresh-water-to-male-631175|title=Maldives Water Crisis: India Transports 1,000 Tonnes of Fresh Water to Male|publisher=[[NDTV]]|date=7 December 2014|access-date=21 December 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://thediplomat.com/2014/12/maldives-faces-drinking-water-crisis/|title=Maldives Faces Drinking Water Crisis|magazine=[[The Diplomat]]|date=5 December 2014|access-date=21 December 2014}}</ref> The humanitarian relief efforts by the Indian side was widely appreciated in Malé across all sections of people, with the Vice-President of Maldives thanking the Indian ambassador for swift action.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ani/maldives-appreciative-of-india-s-help-during-its-water-crisis-shahare-114120600811_1.html|title=Maldives appreciative of India's help during its water crisis: Shahare|newspaper=[[Business Standard]]|date=6 December 2014|access-date=21 December 2014}}</ref>

=== 2011–2015 Maldives political crisis ===
{{Main | 2011–2012 Maldives political crisis | l1= Maldives political crisis}}

Maldives' first democratically elected president from 2008 to 2012 [[Mohammed Nasheed]], was arrested on 22 February 2015 on terror charges. [[India]] and US expressed concern over Nasheed's arrest and manhandling.<ref>{{Cite news|url = https://www.reuters.com/article/us-maldives-politics-idUSKBN0M92D020150314|title = U.S., India concerned over 13-year jail sentence for Maldives' ex-president Nasheed|date = 2015-03-14|newspaper = Reuters|access-date = 2016-03-27}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.firstpost.com/world/pm-modi-cancels-trip-to-maldives-is-it-because-of-yameen-govts-rebuttal-in-nasheed-casepm-modi-cancels-trip-to-maldives-is-it-because-yameen-govts-rebuttal-in-nasheed-case-2140761.html|title = PM Modi cancels trip to Maldives: Is it because of Yameen govt's rebuttal in Nasheed case? – Firstpost|website = Firstpost| date=7 March 2015 |language = en-US|access-date = 2016-03-27}}</ref> [[Narendra Modi|Indian PM Modi]] was to also visit Maldives in the second week of March as a part four nation [[Foreign policy of Narendra Modi#Indian Ocean outreach|visit to Indian Ocean neighbours]]. But, he later omitted Maldives from his tour.<ref>{{Cite news|url = http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/pm-drops-maldives-from-indian-ocean-tour/article6966095.ece|title = PM drops Maldives from Indian Ocean tour|date = 2015-03-06|newspaper = The Hindu|language = en-IN|issn = 0971-751X|access-date = 2016-03-27}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url = http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2015-03-07/news/59869381_1_mohammed-nasheed-prime-minister-narendra-modi-indian-ocean-region|title = Prime Minister Narendra Modi cancels Maldives trip due to political unrest|website = timesofindia-economictimes|access-date = 2016-03-27}}</ref>

=== 2020 COVID-19 crisis ===
During the COVID-19 crisis of 2020, India extended help to Maldives in the form of financial, material and logistical support.

In April 2020, India provided $150 million currency swap support to help Maldives mitigate the financial impact of COVID-19.<ref name="Avas">{{cite news |date=28 April 2020|title=India extends US$ 150 mln currency swap support to Maldives|url=https://avas.mv/en/81994| newspaper=Avas Maldives}}</ref> Also in April, at the request of the Maldivian government, the [[Indian Air Force]] airlifted 6.2 tonnes of essential medicines and hospital consumables to Maldives, as part of 'Operation Sanjeevani'. These supplies had been procured by Maldives's [[State Trading Organisation]] from suppliers in India, but could not be transported due to the COVID-19 lockdown.<ref name="Print">{{cite news |date=2 April 2020|title=IAF airlifts 6.2 tonnes of essential medicines, hospital consumables to Maldives|url=https://theprint.in/defence/iaf-airlifts-6-2-tonnes-of-essential-medicines-hospital-consumables-to-maldives/393909/| newspaper=The Print}}</ref> India had also earlier despatched a medical team with essential medicines to help Maldives fight the COVID outbreak as well as supplied essential food grains and edibles despite logistical challenges in wake of lockdown.<ref name="DD News">{{cite news |date=2 April 2020|title=Operation Sanjeevani: IAF airlifts medical and hospital consumables for the Maldives|url=http://ddnews.gov.in/national/operation-sanjeevani-iaf-airlifts-medical-and-hospital-consumables-maldives| newspaper=DD News}}</ref> This operation was called Operation [[Sanjeevani (plant)|Sanjeevani]].

=== Civil society perception of India ===
Maldivians generally regard Indians and India as a friend and trusted neighbour in the economic, social and political fields, although there has been a strong anti-India stance taken by some sections of the society, expressed under the 'India Out' campaign, which was alleged by the Indian High Commission to be "motivated, malicious, and increasingly personal".<ref>{{Cite news|last=Banka|first=Neha|date=20 July 2021|title=Explained: What is behind the 'India Out' campaign in the Maldives?|work=The Indian Express|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/the-maldives-india-out-campaign-explained-7396314/|access-date=26 November 2021}}</ref> Both nations share historical and cultural ties. Maldives holds a significant position among India's vital maritime neighbors. India has actively engaged in various efforts aimed at bolstering the defense and security infrastructure in Maldives through capacity development and capability enhancement. Working closely with the Maldivian authorities, the Indian Navy has conducted joint exercises, provided training to personnel, aided in infrastructure development, and facilitated the transfer of equipment. These collaborative initiatives emphasize India's crucial role as a security provider in the region. Furthermore, the Indian government has undertaken a reevaluation of its diplomatic approaches concerning key Indian Ocean island nations, taking into consideration their strategic access to the region.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Enriching the Defence Contours of India-Maldives Relations {{!}} Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses |url=https://www.idsa.in/idsacomments/Enriching-the-Defence-Contours-of-India-Maldives-Relations-NSAhmed-060623 |access-date=2023-07-21 |website=www.idsa.in}}</ref>

== Joint Projects in Maldives ==

=== Uthuru Thila Falhu Naval Base Harbour ===
India extended a $50 million Line of Credit to Maldives for defense projects, mainly for the development, support and maintenance of the harbour of the Uthuru Thila Falhu Naval Base.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-02-21 |title=India, Maldives sign agreements for developing naval harbour, boosting defence |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/india-maldives-sign-agreements-for-developing-naval-harbour-boosting-defence-101613921874713.html |access-date=2022-03-28 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-02-21 |title=India pips China, inks deal to develop, support, maintain harbour at naval base in Maldives |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/national/india-pips-china-inks-deal-to-develop-support-maintain-harbour-at-naval-base-in-maldives-953675.html |access-date=2022-03-28 |website=Deccan Herald |language=en}}</ref>

=== Greater Malé Connectivity Project ===
{{Main|Greater Malé Connectivity Project|l1 = Greater Malé Connectivity Project}}
In 2021, the Maldivian Ministry of National Planning, Housing and Infrastructure signed a $500 million infrastructure project for a 6.7 km bridge & causeway link with the Indian engineering company [[Afcons Infrastructure|AFCONS]]. The 6.74-km bridge and causeway link will connect the capital of [[Malé]] with the islands of [[Villingili (Malé)|Villingili]], Gulhifalhu and [[Thilafushi]]. It is being funded through a grant of $100 million and a line of credit of $400 million from India, and will boost connectivity between the four islands that account for almost half of the Maldivian population.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-08-26 |title=Maldives govt signs contract for India-funded $500 million connectivity project |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/maldives-govt-signs-contract-for-india-funded-500-million-connectivity-project-101629983482797.html |access-date=2022-03-27 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}</ref> India's engagement in the Maldives encompasses various infrastructure initiatives, such as the Greater Malé Connectivity Project.<ref>{{Cite news |date=26 August 2021 |title=India, Maldives to sign pact on Greater Male Connectivity Project |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-maldives-greater-male-connectivity-project-7471603/ |access-date=12 July 2023 |work=The Indian Express}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Indians in the Maldives]]
* [[Maldivians in India]]
* [[South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation]] (SAARC)

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{Foreign relations of India}}
{{Foreign relations of the Maldives}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:India-Maldives Relations}}
[[Category:India–Maldives relations| ]]
[[Category:Bilateral relations of India|Maldivdes]]
[[Category:Bilateral relations of the Maldives]]
[[Category:India and the Commonwealth of Nations]]
[[Category:Maldives and the Commonwealth of Nations]]

India–Maldives relations - Revision history

Joseph Patricio: added references

Ajay Kumar: Created a new article