Decided at short notice, the weekend visit of Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to the Maldives has been significant in many ways, given the anti-India protests led by former President Abdullah Yameen which the Maldivian government appears struggling, at least politically, to contain. 

Despite domestic pushback from a section of the opposition parties in the archipelago against the growing strategic partnership with New Delhi, Jaishankar’s visit made it clear that New Delhi has been looking for long-term cooperation - both economic and defense - through its “Neighbourhood First” — a message Male also echoed by reaffirming its “India-First” policy. 

“We are proud of what we have achieved in recent years, we are particularly proud of the way we have faced challenges together,” Jaishankar said, adding, “it has shown that your policy of ‘India First’ and our policy of ‘Neighbourhood First’, these are not just phrases but these are actually the very fulcrum of our relationship,

Significantly, the visit and officials talks were conducted in the southern city of Addu, not in capital Male. “You’ve made history, Minister @DrSJaishankar ! This is the first time official talks have been held out of the Capital City Male’,” Maldives Foreign Minister Abdullah Shahid said in a tweet.

Jaishankar inaugurated the National College for Policing and Law Enforcement (NCPLE) in Addu, one of India’s largest grant-funded projects in the Maldives, and termed it “a real symbol of our development partnership.”  The NCPLE will assist the Maldives Police Service to train its officers and enhance its crime-fighting abilities, Jaishankar stated. 

A number of projects both government-to-government and commercial, including high-impact projects with a focus on youth and boosting of the local economy and capacities in areas of fish processing, tourism and health, were also announced. 

Importantly, last year, when the Indian cabinet approved a proposal for opening a consulate in Addu, there were also some protests and the Maldives government said they had not approved any such proposal yet. Since then, there had been no movement on the issue. 

There appears little doubt that the Jaishankar visit - soon after the visit by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi - to New Delhi - was planned to bridge that gap and to boost India's political capital and goodwill against Beijing's spreading influence. New Delhi has also put its weight behind the Maldives government’s push to develop the southern city through a number of initiatives for capacity building. 

Jaishankar also handed over an extension of the Coastal Radar System, comprising ten radars, to the Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF),  which he said will "contribute to enhancing security for the Maldives and the entire region". The fact that these radar systems will entirely be operated by India-trained personnel of the MNDF was highlighted, given the "India Out" campaign there by the main opposition partys that India has been trying to station its troops in the archipelago. 

Jaishankar flew to Sri Lanka Monday after meeting President Ibrahim Solih, who has been a staunch backer of enhancing ties with India. 

(SAM)