The newly elected President of the Maldives, Mohamed Muizzu, made his first state visit to Beijing as China and India continue to compete for influence in the Indian Ocean nation. During his visit, the Maldives and China strengthened their relationship, signing new agreements on climate, agriculture, and infrastructure, although the value of the deals was not disclosed. President Xi Jinping referred to Muizzu as an “old friend” and declared a “comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership” with the Maldives, setting the stage for further Chinese investment in the Indian Ocean archipelago.
The World Bank has raised concerns about the Maldives’ increasing debt to China, which accounts for about 20 percent of its public debt. India’s relations with the Maldives have also been strained, especially since Muizzu, who campaigned on an “India Out” platform, took office. He promised to remove a unit of Indian security personnel and has secured the withdrawal of Indian soldiers, leading to tensions between the two nations.
Last week, three junior ministers of the Maldives made disparaging social media posts about Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, leading to further tensions between the two countries. Some in the Maldives interpreted Modi’s promotion of tourism in the nearby Indian territory of Lakshadweep as an attempt to draw tourists away from the Maldives.