The Goverment of Maldives has announced the decision to cancel the Hydrographic Survey Agreement with India. After assuming power as the new President of the Maldives, Mohamed Muizzu called for the withdrawal of Indian troops from the country.
Announcement in Malé
The Undersecretary for Public Policy of the President’s Office, Mohamed Firuzul Abdul Khaleel, has declared the country’s decision On December 14, at a press conference in the capital, Malé.
In the press conference, he said that the bilateral agreement will expire on January 7, 2024. Then the new Maldivian government decided not to renew it.
According to the agreement, if either party wants to withdraw from the agreement, it must inform the other party at least six months before the end of the term. This agreement is supposed to be automatically renewed every five years.
Mohamed Firuzul said that the decision of the Maldives not to renew this agreement has already been informed to India. However, no official comment has been received from India on the matter yet.
President Muizzu has officially called for the withdrawal of Indian troops from Maldives with helicopters.
According to the MEA spokesperson, Arindham Bagchi, During the last COP-28 summit, in a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he talked about withdrawing the country’s military forces.
Hydrographic Servey : Investigation of territorial waters
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi signed this agreement during his visit to the Maldives in 2019. The agreement allows India to conduct a thorough investigation of the island nation’s territorial water sources , including reefs, lagoons, coastlines, ocean currents, and tidal levels.
According to this agreement between the two countries, the Indian Navy conducts test operations in Maldivian waters. As a result, the two countries are committed to helping each other in various fields, such as shipping, economic development, and environmental protection.
The Indian Navy also plays an effective role in enhancing maritime security.
Hydrographic surveys are conducted by ships, which use sonar-like equipment to study various aspects.
According to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), these surveys help “map water depths, seabed and shoreline shapes, locations of potential obstructions, and physical characteristics of water bodies”
Three collaborative hydrographic surveys have already been operated in 2021, 2022, and 2023. An area of 944 square kilometers has been effectively surveyed.
The Muizzu administration is not willing to extend the term of this agreement.
Plans and Future Initiatives
It has been informed by the administration of that country that only the country’s organization will work in the waters of the Maldives in the coming days. Marine data will not go outside the Maldives.
It is also said that the previous government made several agreements that were against the sovereignty and independence of the country. Incidentally, Muijju has already ordered the withdrawal of Indian troops from the Maldives. He also highlighted the country’s sovereignty there.
He added that ocean hydrography survey work will now be done only under Maldivian authorities.
The agreement is in the technical phase. The removal of Indian troops from the Maldives was the main campaign of Muizzur’s party.
Currently, there are around 70 Indian troops stationed in the Maldives, including 228 maritime patrol aircraft and two helicopters.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs, India and the Maldives have agreed to form a core group regarding the withdrawal of Indian troops from the island nation.
The Government of the Maldives is planning to conduct future hydrographic work under its own supervision to ensure that sensitive information is protected and restricted to Maldivian citizens.
The new turn in International Relations
Muijju reiterated the administration’s vision to ensure Maldives’ position as a welcoming and hospitable nation, emphasizing the importance of mutual respect for security borders with other countries.
It is believed that China continues to exert pressure on the Maldives, as the island nation is strategically important to both India and China. The agreement was signed between the two countries for cooperation and research in the field of hydrology. China is constantly increasing its activities in the Maldives and is trying to strengthen its position through large loans and investments.
The agreement was signed during the regime of former President Ibrahim Solih. Earlier this year, the new government of President Mohamed Muizzu demanded the withdrawal of its military troops stationed in India. The source of India-China relations is emerging as the reason for this.
President Solih of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) is considered more pro-India, but his successor, Mohammed Muizzu of the Progressive Party of the Maldives (PPM), is seen as more pro-China. Therefore, the new Maldivian government does not want to have friendly relations with India.
The new Maldivian President Moizzu has taken some decisions against India, which shows his distrust towards India. Maizzu asked the Indian government to withdraw its troops from the Maldives. After this, he has now decided not to go ahead with the hydrographic survey with the Government of India.
Opposition to India is one of the reasons for Muizzu’s electoral success. He promised to withdraw the Indian army from the country. During the election campaign, this leader made it clear that the presence of Indian troops in the Maldives raises questions about the country’s sovereignty. Therefore, they will remove all foreign troops. Muizzu cancelled all the bilateral agreement and started directly opposing India.
