Maldives’ pro-China president has ‘nothing to block him’ after big poll win: ‘India is concerned’

Muizzu’s administration is expected to tone down its anti-India rhetoric, with a former top official saying the country was “too small” to be taking sides.

His People’s National Congress bagged 70 out of 93 seats in Sunday’s parliamentary elections, according to preliminary results – enough to secure absolute control of parliament, alongside the three seats secured by allies.

“There will be nothing to block him on whatever policy initiative he wants to take because the opposition has been badly defeated,” said Manoj Joshi, a distinguished fellow at the Observer Research Foundation who specialises in international politics. “However, he has signalled that he would like to keep his equation with India on an even keel. I don’t think we will see anything dramatic.”

Joshi said Muizzu’s win in parliament could usher in a further shift to pro-China policies, but said “India will probably take a restrained view of this,” as the Maldives’ geographical proximity would undoubtedly ensure the maintenance of diplomatic ties.

The Maldives is a traditional ally of India and has remained a foreign policy priority for Delhi given its strategic importance. Its more than 1,000 islands are spread across a remote stretch of the Indian Ocean that forms a vital shipping corridor, helping explain why China has been jostling for influence.

The bigger concern for India and its Western allies such as the US will be whether the Maldives’ military pact with China leads more Chinese naval vessels in the region.

“If the PLA [People’s Liberation Army] navy becomes active around the Maldives, it will have security implications. We don’t know how all this will play out,” Joshi said, referring to China’s navy.

The Indian Ocean nation drifted closer to Beijing