India allegedly plotted to remove Maldives President, claims Washington Post

A shocking report from The Washington Post has revealed that India was allegedly involved in a secret plot to remove Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu. 

According to the report, this conspiracy unfolded after Muizzu won the presidency in 2023 and immediately made bold promises to expel Indian troops from his country. 

His stance on removing foreign military presence was a key part of his campaign, and he also prioritized building stronger ties with China, India’s regional rival.

In fact, Muizzu even tried to sign a military cooperation agreement with Beijing.

In the wake of Muizzu’s election, Indian intelligence agents from the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) are said to have started secret talks with opposition leaders in the Maldives to discuss the possibility of removing him from office. 

The Washington Post claims that, within a matter of weeks, a detailed plan to oust Muizzu had been put into motion.

The report includes a leaked document titled “Democratic Renewal Initiative,” which reveals shocking details about the plot. 

According to this document, opposition leaders, along with 40 members of Muizzu’s own political party, were offered bribes to propose impeachment proceedings against the President. 

The document also shows that RAW agents suggested paying 10 senior military and police officers, as well as three influential criminal groups, to help make the plan a reality. 

The agents had reportedly raised around 87 million Maldivian Rufiyaa (roughly 6 million USD) for the operation, with the money believed to be coming from India, as confirmed by two Maldivian government officials.

Despite months of secret talks and careful planning, the conspirators ultimately failed to gain enough support to go through with the impeachment.

As a result, India did not continue with the plot, and Muizzu remained in power.

Experts believe that while the plot to remove Muizzu did not succeed, the entire episode highlights a much larger competition between India and China for influence in the region. 

This incident sheds light on the growing rivalry between the two powers, especially over smaller countries and key strategic locations around the Indian Ocean.

India and China have both been active in providing financial aid, infrastructure projects, and political support to their preferred leaders in smaller nations. 

This battle for influence is taking place both publicly and behind the scenes.

For India, this rivalry with China has created a difficult foreign policy dilemma. 

Historically, India has supported democratic movements and humanitarian causes in South Asia, hoping to strengthen relationships with leaders who would align with India. 

However, in recent years, India’s actions have seemed to contradict this approach. 

Aggressive interventions in local politics have sometimes caused resentment and pushed countries closer to China, and sometimes even Pakistan.

The Maldives, an island nation made up of over 1,200 islands and home to just around 500,000 people, has become one of the key battlegrounds in this ongoing power struggle. 

The country’s strategic location along major shipping routes connecting the Middle East and Asia has made it a place of intense competition. 

Indian officials have expressed concerns that China may build military facilities on some of the islands, potentially allowing them to monitor sea traffic and even station warships or submarines there.

Hormis Tharakan, a former head of RAW, spoke to The Washington Post about the importance of the Maldives. He said, “A presence in the Maldives—whether by India, China, or anyone else—would significantly enhance control over a large part of the Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea.” 

Tharakan, who has worked on issues related to the Maldives during his time in office, emphasized that maintaining stable and friendly relations with neighboring countries like the Maldives is crucial for India’s security.

Despite his involvement in the past, Tharakan claimed he had no knowledge of the specific plans to remove Muizzu, but he reiterated the importance of India’s relationship with its neighbors, adding, “Maintaining a secure and stable relationship with neighbors like the Maldives is crucial for India.”