Maldives

Indian prime minister boosts strategic ties with the Maldives and Sri Lanka

By Rohantha De Silva, 15 June 2019

Modi’s visits were to make clear that New Delhi is determined to prevent China regaining influence in the two Indian Ocean island nations.

The US reinforces political and military relations with the Maldives

By Rohantha De Silva, 15 March 2019

The foreign minister’s US trip illustrates how far the new Maldivian government is distancing itself from China.

India and the Maldives strengthen military ties

By Rohantha De Silva, 5 February 2019

In a clear jab against China, the two countries agreed not to allow their territories to “be used for any activity that is hostile to each other’s interest.”

Maldives president launches “anti-corruption” campaign to undermine Chinese influence

By Rohantha De Silva, 21 January 2019

The purpose of the government’s investigation is to witch hunt former President Yameen and other pro-Chinese factions of the Maldives ruling elite.

The Maldives: Pro-US President Solih sworn in

By Rohantha De Silva, 5 December 2018

Tolih’s administration will bring the Maldives into line with Washington’s military preparations for war against China and reorient the island-nation towards India.

Under US pressure, Maldives president accepts election defeat

By Rohantha De Silva, 29 October 2018

The pro-US shift in Maldives will only intensify geopolitical tensions, particularly between Washington and Beijing.

Pro-US candidate wins Maldives presidential election

By Rohantha De Silva, 26 September 2018

Yameen’s electoral defeat will be used by the US and India to boost their political and strategic influence in the Maldives which will heighten regional geopolitical tensions.

Indian elite alarmed as Maldives gravitates toward China

By Rohantha De Silva, 20 July 2018

The rivalry between India and China over the Maldives underscores the geo-political tensions created by Washington’s offensive against Beijing.

Maldives president ends state of emergency

By Rohantha De Silva, 7 April 2018

President Yameen withdrew the draconian emergency law a day after trumped-up terrorism charges were filed against his chief political opponents.

EU threats add to pressure on Maldives government

By Rohantha De Silva, 3 March 2018

The EU, US and India are intensifying efforts to undermine Chinese influence on the strategically located Indian Ocean island nation.

Amid growing great power rivalry

Maldives political crisis deepens

By Rohantha De Silva, 23 February 2018

A strategically-located Indian Ocean archipelago, the Maldives has become a focal point of the increasingly explosive geopolitical competition between India and the US on one side, and China on the other.

Amid jockeying over Maldives, Washington presses for closer ties with India

By Rohantha De Silva, 14 February 2018

India is plotting with the US to exploit the political crisis in the Maldives to pursue their geostrategic interests, including through a possible Indian invasion.

Will India invade the Maldives?

By Rohantha De Silva, 9 February 2018

India’s armed forces are reportedly “on standby for any contingency in the Maldives from evacuation of Indian tourists to military intervention.”

Political crisis erupts in the Maldives

By Rohantha De Silva, 7 February 2018

After the Maldives president imposed a state of emergency, the opposition leader called for an Indian intervention into the small Indian Ocean state.

Maldives and China sign free trade agreement

By Rohantha De Silva, 22 December 2017

Maldives has become a focal point of geo-political rivalry between the US and India on one side and China on the other.

Indian and US officials discuss Chinese influence in Maldives and Sri Lanka

By K. Ratnayake, 16 November 2017

Washington and New Delhi are sending a message: there will be no room to manoeuvre in the US war drive against China.

European Union intervenes in Maldives

By Rohantha De Silva, 6 November 2017

The EU visit had nothing to do with defending “human rights” but to ensure the domination of western powers over the strategically located Indian Ocean archipelago.

Maldives president mobilises military and police against opposition MPs

By Wasantha Rupasinghe, 31 July 2017

Intense political infighting in Maldives is driven by US-India geo-political manoeuvres against China.

Maldives opposition intensifies campaign to destabilise government

By Rohantha De Silva, 4 April 2017

Infighting between the Maldives opposition and President Yameen is bound up with geo-political manoeuvres by the US and India against China.

Saudi king postpones visit to Maldives

By Rohantha De Silva, 18 March 2017

The postponement took place amid intensifying conflicts within the Maldivian ruling elite, bound up with the geo-political rivalry between the US, India and China.

Opposition plots regime change in Maldives

By Wasantha Rupasinghe, 6 September 2016

The US and its allies are hostile to President Yameen, not because of his record of human rights abuses, but his ties to China.

Foreign minister resigns as Maldives political crisis intensifies

By Wasantha Rupasinghe, 18 July 2016

Bitter infighting, driven by the geo-strategic demands of the US and India, is deepening within the Maldives ruling elite.

India bullies Maldives into enhanced “defence cooperation” pact

By Wasantha Rupasinghe, 28 April 2016

By cajoling the Maldives into a new defence pact, India provided the US with a demonstration of its potential as a “frontline” ally in confronting China.

Maldives government releases former president

By Wasantha Rupasinghe, 2 February 2016

The strategically-located island archipelago has increasingly become a focal point of Washington’s “pivot” to the Indo-Pacific region to confront China.

Maldives president declares state of emergency

By Wasantha Rupasinghe, 6 November 2015

The political instability in the strategically-located island nation is being fueled by Washington’s hostility to the government’s close relations with China.

Sharp political infighting in Maldives

By Wasantha Rupasinghe, 10 March 2015

The intense rivalry between the government and opposition is bound up with sharpening geo-political tensions throughout Asia and internationally.

Former Maldives president mounts challenge to government

By Wasantha Rupasinghe, 5 February 2015

Opposition leader Nasheed visited Sri Lanka to sound out Western support for his moves against President Yameen.

US seeks defence agreement with Maldives

By K. Ratnayake, 21 May 2013

The leaked agreement to build US bases on the Indian Ocean archipelago is part of a broader strategy to prepare war against China.

India brokers political deal to back coup in Maldives

By Wasantha Rupasinghe, 23 February 2012

India arranged a shaky deal among parties in the Maldives in an attempt to defuse the political crisis following a military coup in the islands.

US, Indian envoys intervene to back coup in the Maldives

By Wasantha Rupasinghe, 15 February 2012

The aim of visits by US and Indian envoys to the Maldives has been to back the Hassan government, installed in a coup, and discourage ousted President Nasheed to end his campaign against the government.

Maldives president ousted in US-backed coup

By W. A. Sunil and Deepal Jayasekera, 10 February 2012

Right-wing forces in the Maldives, aided by the military and police, have ousted President Mohamed Nasheed in a US-backed coup.