A recent report by the Washington Post has alleged secret efforts involving Indian intelligence and Maldivian opposition leaders to impeach Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu. The claims spotlight growing geopolitical tensions between India and China over influence in the Indian Ocean region.
The report, published on Tuesday, suggests that the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), the primary opposition, approached India earlier this year, seeking support to oust Muizzu. Allegedly, a staggering $6 billion was requested from New Delhi to execute the plan. The scheme reportedly included bribing 40 members of the Maldivian parliament, including members of Muizzu’s own party, the People’s National Congress (PNC). However, the plan fell apart due to an insufficient number of votes.
According to the Washington Post, discussions regarding the plan were conducted between Maldivian opposition leaders and Indian intelligence agents, though the role of the Indian government itself remains unclear. Former Maldives President and opposition leader Mohamed Nasheed denied knowledge of such a plan, stating, “India will never support such a move. They uphold the democratic system of the Maldives.”
New Delhi has not commented on the allegations. The Washington Post further noted that Muizzu’s presidency posed challenges for India. Following his election in late 2023, Muizzu called for the withdrawal of Indian troops stationed in the Maldives and leaned toward China, proposing a military assistance agreement with Beijing. By January 2024, Indian intelligence operatives, reportedly acting under the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), began exploring ways to remove him in collaboration with Maldivian opposition leaders.
This alleged plot underscores the escalating competition between India and China for strategic influence in the Maldives, a nation of 1,200 islands and a pivotal point in the Indian Ocean. The revelations have added new complexity to India-Maldives relations, which remain in the global spotlight.
Source: Washington Post
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
