On this page:

• Summary
• Politics
• Diplomacy
  • Maldives and India
  • Maldives and China
  • Madlives and the Middle East
  • Maldives and Australia
• International Forums

Summary

In 1153, when the Buddhist King Dhovemi converted to Islam, he adopted the title of Sultan Muhammad al-Adil and initiated an Islamic Dynasty that lasted until 1932. Until then, all administrative powers rested almost entirely with the Sultan. Eventual British influence saw the introduction of a constitutional monarchy; however, once implemented it was unilaterally rejected and publicly torn up. A referendum was held in 1952, and the Maldives officially became a republic with Mohammad Amin Didi as the first elected President. While seeking medical treatment in Sri Lanka, members of his own cabinet organised a revolution and, on his return, confined him to an island where he was later killed by an angry mob.

A second referendum was held in 1953 which saw 98% of people voting in favour of the monarchy. This brought about a return to the past that largely excluded Britain from any decision-making. The Maldives did not gain full independence from Britain until 1965, and a military presence remained on the Island of Gan until 1976. This was under a lease agreement which provided the Maldives with much needed income to kick-start development.

In 1968, the Sultanate was again abolished and replaced by a new republic with Ibrahim Nasr as the country’s president. He remained the country's leader for 10 years and is renowned for promoting the Maldives internationally and investing heavily in the tourism industry. Although the country was debt free at the end of his rule, from 1976, the economic situation had declined due to a variety of factors, and he lost popularity. In 1978, he fled to Singapore and in 1981, was charged with state theft and organising a coup d'état against his successor, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom.

Gayoom remained in power until 2008 and continued the path of development and foreign investment. While he improved the lives of many Maldivians, he is accused by human rights groups of employing terror tactics against his opponents and for brutally punishing dissenters. Mohamed Nasheed, a journalist and activist, was jailed 16 times under his rule. Nasheed gained prominence in 2003 by starting the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) while in exile. His actions helped to increase pressure on Gayoom to adopt political reforms, which included allowing multiple political parties to register in 2005.

In 2008, the country’s first multi-candidate presidential election was held, and Mohamed Nasheed was elected president. He faced many challenges, including a huge debt left by the previous government, the 2004 tsunami repair bill, rising unemployment, corruption, and high drug use amongst the population. While his efforts to turn the economy around were significant, by 2011 the country saw continual protests supported by the previous president, and in 2012, Nasheed was forced to resign. In March 2013, he was convicted under the country's terrorism laws for ordering the arrest of an allegedly corrupt judge. He was subsequently jailed for 13 years. His conviction was overturned in 2018 by the Supreme Court of the Maldives who admitted he had been wrongfully charged and the case against him should have not gone to trial. The conviction had been upheld in 2016.

In 2013, Maumoon Gayoom’s half-brother, Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom, was sworn in as president. He instigated a period of identity politics, using Islam as a weapon to challenge western influence. In 2016, The Maldives left the Commonwealth due to alleged human rights abuses and corruption while the country experienced a dramatic rise in Islamic fundamentalism.

In 2018, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih won the presidency and quickly set in motion reforms to counter the damage that had been done under Abdulla Yameen, including returning the Maldives to the Commonwealth. Press freedom was largely restored, anti-corruption measures were put in place, and religious moderacy was returned. In 2024, he was succeeded by President Mohamed Muizzu's from the People's National Congress (PNC) party. Muizzu vowed to continue fighting corruption and to bring justice to those found guilty of stealing state funds; however, there have so far been limited prosecutions and no money has been recovered.

Politics

The Republic of Maldives is a presidential representative democratic republic, whereby the President is the Head of State and has executive power. The President appoints the Cabinet which is approved by the Parliament. The President and vice president are elected by the citizens to a five-year term by a secret ballot. Once in office, they can be re-elected to a second 5-year term, which is the limit allowed by the constitution. The unicameral Majlis of the Maldives is composed of 93 members. The total number of members representing each constituency depends on the number of people they represent.

The Maldivian legal system is derived mainly from traditional Islamic law. The Supreme Court has five judges, including a Chief Justice who is appointed by the President. Under the new 2008 constitution, the function of Local Government is delegated to an Atoll Council to administer each atoll and an Island Council to administer each inhabited island.

Diplomacy

Maldives has strong diplomatic ties with many nations; however, diplomacy has been greatly influenced by the president of the day, which has resulted in some diplomatic dilemmas. The Maldives is close to India in terms of geography, language, and culture while also having historical and religious ties to the Middle East and economic ties with China. Several diplomatic rows have erupted due to other countries having competing ideologies and interests.

Maldives and India

India and the Maldives established diplomatic relations following the country’s independence from the British in 1966. Since then, India and Maldives have developed close strategic, military, economic, and cultural relations. India has provided extensive economic aid and has contributed to developing infrastructure, health, telecommunications, and has provided labour resources. Relations faced a strain in January 2024 due to derogatory remarks by Maldivian officials and concerns over racism, targeted towards Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In August 2024, both countries announced new investments and deeper cooperation.

Maldives and China

Maldives and China established diplomatic relations in 1972 with trade being the major focus area. Economic ties have recently become more important with large inflows of Chinese tourists entering the country since 2010. Capital inflows from China have also rapidly increased and there is a reliance on Chinese imported goods. Relations reached a new high in August 2018 when the Chinese-Maldives Friendship bridge was opened (now known as the Sinamalé Bridge). The bridge spans 1.39km and links the two islands of Malé and Hulhulé.

Mohamed Muizzu was the first president to visit China before India in July 2024. During the state visit, the two countries agreed to develop an "Action Plan" for establishing a comprehensive strategic cooperation partnership from 2024 to 2028 and signed 20 MoUs.

Maldives and the Middle East

The Persian Gulf has long-standing maritime routes through the Indian Ocean, where Maldives is a significant port. Routes from the Straits of Hormuz to the Straits of Malacca have historically been vital to the global energy trade. A 2023 United Arab Emirates (UAE) pledge to make a sizeable investment towards the Maldives main international hub highlights the developing relationship between the Maldives and Persian Gulf Nations which include the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, and Oman. 

Saudi Arabia and the Maldives share a special bond, with the former being the heartland of Islam and home to the holy cities of Mecca and Medina. Saudi Arabia naturally exerts a powerful cultural sway in the Maldives and has the discretion of setting Hajj quotas – the number of pilgrims allowed to enter the country each year to perform the Hajj. Domestic pressure to secure a favourable Hajj quota for Maldivians is a key reason for the Maldives’ efforts to maintain strong relations with Riyadh.

Maldives and Australia

Australia and Maldives share strong interests in education, maritime security, trade, combatting transnational crime, and protecting the environment. Australia’s engagement also extends to human rights, terrorism, and governance. Both countries work together in UN forums, the Commonwealth, and in regional institutions such as the Indian Ocean Rim Association. Australia opened its High Commission in Malé in 2023.

International Forums

Since 1978, the Maldives has endeavoured to intensify links with strategic partners and has been active in international engagement both regionally and globally. It joined the Commonwealth of Nations in 1982, is a founding member of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), a member of the Bretton Woods system, a party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), and has attended numerous conventions on the protection of the environment, the suppression of terrorism, disarmament, and the promotion and protection of human rights.

The Maldives has successfully established dialogue with international human rights organisations, such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, and acceded to numerous human rights initiatives, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR). The Maldives also has links with the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) and the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).

For further information on Maldives Diplomacy, see the resources below:

Podcast

1. Samudra Manthan: Political Churnings in Maldives and the Indian Ocean Region – The Diplomat

Articles

1. Maldives walks a diplomatic tightrope with India | The Strategist (aspistrategist.org.au)
2. How India and China are vying for influence in the Maldives with mega-bridge projects | CNN
3. Transparency Maldives calls on authorities to… – Transparency.org
4. ‘Good fences make good neighbours’ – Does it? Analysing the India-Maldives Diplomatic Relations – Modern Diplomacy
5. Maldives asks Indian troops to leave after inauguration of pro-China President Mohamed Muizzu – ABC News
6. The Gulf’s Growing Influence Over the Maldives – The Diplomat
7. Maldives country brief | Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (dfat.gov.au)