Can India mend fences with the Maldives amid its troop withdrawal and China’s gambit to gain clout?

Analysts say it would be counterproductive for India to reassert itself in the Maldives as this would only incite more anti-Indian sentiment.

India has agreed to a complete withdrawal of troops and support staff from the Maldives by May 10 following talks between both countries.

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Three Indian aircraft operated by Indian civilian staff will be stationed on the island to help with rescue and relief operations as and when they are needed in the remote islands.

“India has the advantage of geographical proximity, whether it is Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan or the Maldives,” said Manoj Joshi, a distinguished fellow at the Observer Research Foundation.

“It must develop better instruments of inducement so that it is clear why it will be good [for its neighbours] to go with India.”

During the Maldivian presidential election last year, Muizzu campaigned to remove the nation’s long-standing “India First” policy. Muizzu defeated his predecessor Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, whom he accused of allowing India to hold sway over the Maldives.

Maldivian ministers Malsha Shareef, Mariyam Shiuna and Abdulla Mahzoom Majid had called Modi a “clown”, “terrorist” and “puppet of Israel”, respectively, over India’s support of Israel in the Israel-Gaza war and were suspended from their positions.

Muizzu’s demand for the withdrawal of Indian troops had further aggravated bilateral tensions.

New Delhi considers the Indian Ocean archipelago to be within its sphere of influence, with the Maldives situated along key shipping routes.

China’s growing presence in the Indian Ocean and its influence in the Maldives as well as in neighbouring Sri Lanka have stoked India’s suspicions about the security