NEW DELHI— Last week, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared a series of images on social media that showed him snorkelling, strolling on a white-sand beach, and reclining in a chair next to turquoise seas in Lakshadweep, an Indian Ocean island chain.
It was a “exhilarating experience,” he said on X, previously Twitter, praising the picturesque, lesser-known, and isolated Indian archipelago that his administration believes has untapped tourism potential. Indians on social media, mainly Modi fans, were in awe at the photographs.
However, 70 nautical miles south, his beach images sparked a furor.
Some in the Maldives, a tiny archipelago nation, perceived the tourist effort as an attempt to attract visitors away from their country. Three top Maldivian officials replied to Modi’s statement over the weekend, labelling him a “clown,” a “terrorist,” and a “Israeli puppet.” Many other Maldivians have attacked Indian visitors on social media.
In India, the answer was quick.
Government officials, Bollywood stars, and cricketers began inviting people to visit Lakshwadeep in an effort to promote local vacation attractions. Many travellers cancelled their visits to the Maldives by posting screenshots on X with the hashtag #BoycottMaldives. On Monday, EaseMyTrip, an Indian travel portal, joined in by blocking bookings for flights to the Maldives, claiming the action was taken “in solidarity with our nation.”
In an attempt to contain the repercussions with New Delhi, Maldives officials erased their tweets and were suspended by the country’s president for making “derogatory” remarks against India.
The event exposed the fragility of India’s relationship with the Maldives, as well as its vulnerability to breakdown at a time when both Beijing and New Delhi vie for influence in the island country.
It also highlighted the Maldives’ paradox, in which successive administrations have either been pro-India or pro-China, as well as the high stakes in a country where tourism is a key component of the economy.
According to the official Maldives tourism website, Indian tourists made up the largest group of visitors by nationality last year, accounting for approximately 11% of the country’s tourism sector. Many of them are high-spending tourists who enjoy its luxurious beaches.
India is also a strategic ally of the Maldives, having troops stationed on the islands. However, ties between Male and New Delhi have worsened since Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu, who is considered as pro-Chinese, was elected in November after running on a “India Out” platform demanding for the personnel’s removal, claiming they constituted a danger to his country’s sovereignty.
Maldivian presidents have historically made New Delhi their first foreign stop after being elected, a tribute to India’s influence on the island nation. Muizzu, however, defied convention and went to Turkey in December for his first international vacation.
Muizzu visited China on Sunday, the day the issue around Modi’s beach vacation erupted. On Tuesday, Muizzu characterised Beijing as the island nation’s “closest” friend and asked it to enhance investment in the Maldives, indicating a strategic change.
“China was our No. 1 market prior to Covid, and it is my request that we increase our efforts to help China regain this position,” he said at a business gathering in Fujian province, southeastern China.
Experts believe the Maldives cannot afford to separate itself from India, and that the government’s prompt decision to suspend the officials and condemn their remarks demonstrated how much it values relations with New Delhi.
Former Maldivian Foreign Minister Ahmed Shaheed stated that Muizzu’s decision to visit China before India would not have “raised any eyebrows” if not for his “India Out” campaign before the election.
“I don’t see anything that shows a tilt towards China,” he added, referring to Muizzu’s address in Fujian, which he had previously given as routine.
However, Shaheed believes the debate over Indian forces stationed in the Maldives may have heightened tensions.
An unknown number of Indian military soldiers are stationed in the island country. Their responsibilities include operating two helicopters supplied by India and helping in the rescue of those who require assistance at sea.
There are indicators that the Maldives does not want to push matters further.
Maldives Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer condemned the officials’ statements in an X post on Monday, saying his nation is dedicated to “fostering a positive and constructive dialogue with our partners.”
“The Maldives administration cannot afford to have a fight with India; it would be economic suicide. “Everyone should see this,” said Shaheed.
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