MALDIVIAN MINISTER ELECTED AS UNGA PRESIDENT

MALDIVIAN MINISTER ELECTED AS UNGA PRESIDENT

Recently, the Maldives’ Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid was elected the President of the 76th session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly (GA) for 2021-22. The win was welcomed by India as Indian diplomats had been helping the Maldives and India expects close cooperation with Maldives at the UN. However, the Maldives has made no decision on opening an Indian consulate in its southern Addu Atoll even as the Indian Cabinet cleared a proposal for it.

PRESIDENT OF UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY

• This is a post held on an annual basis, rotated amongst various regional groupings. The 76th session (2021-22) is the turn of the Asia-Pacific group. This is the first time Maldives will be occupying the office of the President of UNGA. Maldives also sees it as a win for the 52-member Small Island Developing States (SIDS), which are battling climate change vulnerability and other developmental challenges.
• Addu Atoll: Addu Atoll, also known as Seenu Atoll, is the southernmost atoll of the Maldives. Apart from its strategic location in the Indian Ocean, Addu is the second largest city in the archipelago, home to over 30,000 people.
• India's Stand: India approved the opening of a new consulate in the Maldivian city of Addu, in reflection of the importance India attaches to its ties with the strategically located island nation. India's decision to expand its diplomatic presence in the Maldives comes amid China's consistent efforts to increase its influence in the island nation.
• Also Indian rationale for the consulate was to help Addu residents with speedy visa services.
• Opposition of the Initiative: Some Maldivians see a new consulate with suspicion, especially on the heels of a USD 33-million Maldivian police training facility that India is helping build in Addu. There is already an Indian Embassy in Male.

GEO-STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE OF MYANMAR FOR INDIA

Maldives, a Toll Gate in Indian Ocean: Located at the southern and northern parts of this island chain lies the two important sea lanes of communication (SLOCs). These SLOCs are critical for maritime trade flow between the Gulf of Aden and Gulf of Hormuz in West Asia and the Strait of Malacca in Southeast Asia. Nearly 50% of India’s external trade and 80% of its energy imports transit these SLOCs in the Arabian Sea.

Part of Important Groupings: Besides, Maldives is a member of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and the South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation (SASEC).

INDIA-MALDIVES BILATERAL RELATIONSHIP

Cooperation between India & Maldives: Through the decades, India has rushed emergency assistance to the Maldives, whenever sought. In 1988, when armed mercenaries attempted a coup against President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, India sent paratroopers and Navy vessels and restored the legitimate leadership under Operation Cactus. India and Maldives conducted the joint military exercise ‘Ekuverin’.

Disaster Management: The 2004 tsunami and the drinking water crisis in Male a decade later were other occasions when India rushed assistance. The Maldives has been one of the biggest beneficiaries of the Covid-19 assistance and vaccines delivered by India among India’s all neighbouring countries. When the world supply chains were blocked because of the pandemic, India continued to provide crucial commodities to the Maldives under Mission SAGAR.

People To People Contact: Maldivian students attend educational institutions in India and patients fly here for superspeciality healthcare, aided by a liberal visa-free regime extended by India.

Economic Cooperation: Tourism is the mainstay of Maldivian economy. Given the geographical limitations imposed on the Maldives, India has exempted the nation from export curbs on essential commodities.

MAJOR CONCERNS RELATED TO THE RELATIONSHIP

Political Instability: India’s major concern has been the impact of political instability in the neighbourhood on its security and development. The February 2015 arrest of Maldives’ opposition leader Mohamed Nasheed on terrorism charges and the consequent political crisis have posed a real diplomatic test for India’s neighbourhood policy.

Radicalisation: In the past decade or so, the number of Maldivians drawn towards terrorist groups like the Islamic State (IS) and Pakistan-based madrassas and jihadist groups has been increasing. Political instability and socio-economic uncertainty are the main drivers fuelling the rise of Islamist radicalism in the island nation.

China Angle: China’s strategic footprint in India’s neighbourhood has increased. The Maldives has emerged as an important 'pearl' in China’s “String of Pearls” construct in South Asia. Also, the Maldives have started using the China card to bargain with India.

CONCLUSION

It is hoped that India in the UN Security Council and the Maldivian President of the General Assembly will work in tandem as India pursues its goals for multilateral reform, and re-energise the dormant process of effecting change in the old power structures in the global body. In accordance with the Neighbourhood First Policy of the government, India remains a committed development partner for a stable, prosperous and peaceful Maldives.

TEST YOURSELF

Q.1 Which of the following is the Maldivian Minister who was elected the President of the 76th session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly (GA) for 2021-22?

1. Abdulla Shahid
2. Maumoon Abdul Gayoom
3. Mohamed Nasheed
4. None of the above

Q.2 Consider the given statements & state which of the following is correct in the reference to the post of the President of the UNGA?

1. The post of the president of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) was held on a biennial basis, rotated amongst various regional groupings. The 76th session (2021-22) for being the president of UNGA is the turn of the Asia-Pacific group: ANSWER
2. This is the third time Maldives will be occupying the office of the President of UNGA.
3. None of the above

Q.3 Recently, India approved the opening of a new consulate in which of the following places of Maldives in reflection of the importance India attaches to its ties with the strategically located island nation?

1. Maldivian City of Addu: ANSWER
2. Kaafu Atoll
3. Maafushi
4. None of the above

Q.4 Under which of the following Mission India is supporting and providing crucial Commodities to Maldives and other nations during the pandemic?

1. Mission Jal Shakti
2. Mission Sagar: ANSWER
3. Mission Sagarmala
4. Mission Jal Jeevan

Q.5 Which of the following statements is/are incorrect about the 'Operation Cactus'?

1. It is a Indian military assistance to Maldives.
2. Provided when Coup was against the President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom.
3. The Coup was attempted in the year 2002: ANSWER
4. None of the above