Abstract: This paper examines the strategic significance of the Maldives within India’s foreign policy prerogatives, situating the bilateral relationship in the broader context of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and rising great-power competition. It argues that despite the Maldives’ small size, its geographic location along critical sea lanes makes it central to India’s maritime security and regional influence. Using a realist security framework, the study analyzes historical engagement, economic and defense cooperation, and recent political developments, including the ‘India Out’ campaign and the growing Chinese presence under the Belt and Road Initiative. The paper finds that while India has responded through renewed diplomatic, developmental, and security initiatives, its approach often remains reactive and insufficiently institutionalized. By foregrounding the agency of a small island state, the study contributes to debates on India’s maritime strategy and highlights the need for a coherent, long-term engagement to sustain India’s role as a key security provider in the IOR.
Arpita Paul (Sun,) studied this question.