‘Maldives Tones Down Anti-India Stand’

NEW DELHI: India’s stakes in the Maldives have never been higher. The recent election of Mohammad Muizzu as president, unseating the pro-India Mohd. Soli has strengthened the view that China will return along with all its attendant strategic games against India. But Vice Adm. Shekhar Sinha (Retd), former FOC-in-C of Western Naval Command, believes India needs to wait and watch. Speaking on The Talking Point, he pointed out that the anti-India statements from Male have reduced.Muizzu now talks of staying neutral between the two. Muizzu’s change of heart apparently flows from a meeting with India’s high commissioner, where he was briefed on the Indian naval presence in the island, the services they were providing Maldivians, and Delhi’s larger role as a capacity builder and development partner. Tune in for more in this chat with Vice Adm. Shekhar Sinha (Retd).