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\u003cp style=\u0022margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;\u0022\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe opening of the UK’s first embassy in the Maldives presents a unique opportunity for the two nations to increase cooperation on Indian Ocean and security issues. As the only diplomatic outpost of any Western country in the Maldives – a \u003ca href=\u0022https://www.iiss.org/blogs/analysis/2018/04/maldives-still-in-crisis\u0022\u003estrategically located\u003c/a\u003e group of islands in the Indian Ocean with a population of only 400,000 – the embassy will provide a platform for the two countries to address shared interests and concerns on maritime security, as well as countering extremism and terrorism.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\u0022margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;\u0022\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe timing of the UK’s announcement of the new embassy was significant. It took place only 17 days after the inauguration of the newly elected president of the Maldives, Ibrahim Solih. Regional and global powers, including the UK, US and India, welcomed Solih’s election victory as an opportunity to strengthen democratic institutions in the Maldives. The US and EU had threatened to impose sanctions on the previous government, led by the \u003ca href=\u0022https://www.iiss.org/blogs/analysis/2018/04/maldives-still-in-crisis\u0022\u003econtroversial president Abdulla Yameen\u003c/a\u003e, amid concerns about vote-rigging.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\u0022margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;\u0022\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSolih was the sole candidate fielded by the joint opposition, which united to defeat Yameen, by 58% to 42%. The country’s complex new government consists of a four-party coalition led by Solih of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP). The leader of the MDP, Mohamed Nasheed – the Maldives’ first democratically elected president who served in 2008–12 – only \u003ca href=\u0022https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/11/maldives-president-nasheed-ends-exile-arrives-male-181101114255492.html\u0022\u003ereturned to the country from exile on 1 November\u003c/a\u003e. The ruling coalition also includes the party of former president Yameen’s half-brother Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, who had ruled the Maldives as president for 30 years from 1978.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch5 style=\u0022margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;\u0022\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRe-assessing China’s presence\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/h5\u003e\n\u003cp style=\u0022margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;\u0022\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\u0022margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;\u0022\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe new government is re-assessing the level of the country’s debt to China – estimated to range from \u003ca href=\u0022https://www.reuters.com/article/us-maldives-politics-china/after-building-spree-just-how-much-does-the-maldives-owe-china-idUSKCN1NS1J2\u0022\u003eUS$1.5 billion to US$3bn\u003c/a\u003e – which amounts to up to \u003ca href=\u0022https://www.iiss.org/events/2018/03/maldives-crisis\u0022\u003e80% of the Maldives’ foreign debt\u003c/a\u003e, giving Beijing immense leverage over its smaller partner. Beijing’s multi-billion dollar investments in the island nation were predominantly signed by Yameen. \u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\u0022margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;\u0022\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Solih administration is also planning an \u003ca href=\u0022https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-maldives-politics/maldives-new-president-warns-state-coffers-looted-after-china-led-boom-idUKKCN1NM0JW\u0022\u003eaudit\u003c/a\u003e of the numerous Chinese projects \u003ca href=\u0022https://www.iiss.org/blogs/analysis/2018/04/maldives-still-in-crisis\u0022\u003e\u003cspan style=\u0022text-decoration: none; color: windowtext;\u0022\u003ein the\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\u0022text-decoration: none;\u0022\u003e \u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003eMaldives. Solih is also considering pulling out of the \u003ca href=\u0022https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-46269504\u0022\u003eMaldives–China free trade agreement\u003c/a\u003e, signed by Yameen in December 2017, due to the ‘one-sided’ level of trade between the two countries.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\u0022margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;\u0022\u003e\u003cspan\u003eChina will nevertheless continue to have a significant presence in the Maldives during Solih’s tenure. Its multi-billion dollar investments and delivery of infrastructure projects – including the China–Maldives Friendship Bridge connecting Hulhule Island to Malé – is unlikely to be matched by any other country. More tourists from China visit the Maldives than any other nation, making up \u003ca href=\u0022https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/CR/Issues/2017/12/01/Maldives-2017-Article-IV-Consultation-Press-Release-Staff-Report-and-Statement-by-the-45439\u0022\u003e25%\u003c/a\u003e of the country’s tourist industry.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\u0022margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;\u0022\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOther regional and global powers have, however, increased their engagement with the newly elected government, with high-level visits from the UK and US governments taking place just days after the election. India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi made his first visit to the Maldives for Solih’s inauguration ceremony on 17 November.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch5 style=\u0022margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;\u0022\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMaritime security cooperation\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/h5\u003e\n\u003cp style=\u0022margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;\u0022\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\u0022margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;\u0022\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe UK has stated that its new embassy will reflect its role as a ‘\u003ca href=\u0022https://www.gov.uk/government/news/foreign-secretary-announces-new-uk-embassy-in-maldives?utm_source=264a2128-db16-4bc3-ab93-8d27688dfd40\u0026amp;utm_medium=email\u0026amp;utm_campaign=govuk-notifications\u0026amp;utm_content=immediate\u0022\u003enet security provider\u003c/a\u003e’ in the Indian Ocean region – the first time that it has used this term to describe its security interests in the region. This will support the UK’s role in working with regional partners to make ‘the Indian Ocean more secure’, as explained by \u003ca href=\u0022https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdkIH8_voBI\u0026amp;index=15\u0026amp;list=PL06gBmITAMbdweY_tLJwrUMWwKHynGUjt\u0026amp;t=0s\u0022\u003ePhilip Barton\u003c/a\u003e, the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s Director General for Consular and Security, at the 2018 IISS Shangri-La Dialogue. This follows the re-opening of a British naval support facility in Bahrain in 2016, 50 years after the UK’s withdrawal \u003ca href=\u0022https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTXoDXpSkPM\u0022\u003e‘east of Suez’\u003c/a\u003e.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\u0022margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;\u0022\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe UK could work with the Maldives and India, which also seeks a role as a ‘net security provider’ in the region, on the joint delivery of public security goods. For example, there is an opportunity for cooperation on maritime domain awareness (MDA) – the understanding of events occurring at sea, including ships and vessels near a country’s waters. The Maldives would benefit from the provision of MDA training and capacity-building initiatives by the UK and India. There is also scope for cooperation with other extra-regional Indian Ocean powers, including the US and France, to ensure a more secure region.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch5 style=\u0022margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;\u0022\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCountering extremism and terrorism\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/h5\u003e\n\u003cp style=\u0022margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;\u0022\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\u0022margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;\u0022\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe UK’s new embassy also provides an opportunity for increased engagement with the new Maldivian government and India on countering extremism and terrorism. Taken on a per capita basis, more Maldivian nationals have joined the Islamic State than any other country – between 250 and 450. Social problems, including unemployment, as well as organised crime and gang violence in the island nation have contributed to the high levels of radicalisation.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\u0022margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;\u0022\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile there have not been any terrorist attacks carried out in the Maldives, India and the UK share concerns over potential attacks by returning foreign fighters on their respective nationals and interests both in the island nation and the wider region. More than 100,000 British nationals visit the Maldives every year. Regular dialogue between the countries, for example, through the establishment of joint working groups on counter-terrorism, can also help address concerns over radicalisation.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\u0022margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;\u0022\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFor the new Maldivian government, balancing its engagement with regional and global powers including the UK and India, along with China’s presence in the island nation, will be its primary geopolitical challenge. \u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\u0022margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;\u0022\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","className":"richtext reading--content font-secondary"}), document.getElementById("react_eGXeWueFZEqj0NUBemtw"))});
\u003cp style=\"margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe appointment of a new government in the Maldives has been greeted by key regional powers as an important opportunity to strengthen Indian Ocean cooperation on maritime security and counter-terrorism initiatives.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e
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