Indian Defense Forum 
India was ‘involved’ in plot to remove Maldivian president
FE ONLINE DESK
Published :
Dec 31, 2024 23:45
Updated :
Dec 31, 2024 23:57
India’s intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), was allegedly involved in a plot to remove Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu after he had pledged to expel Indian troops stationed in his island nation.
Under the plot, Maldivian opposition politicians proposed bribing 40 members of parliament, including those from Muizzu’s own party, to vote to impeach him, The Washington Post reports quoting an internal document titled “Democratic Renewal Initiative”.
According to the report, agents working at the behest of RAW, began quietly discussing with Maldivian opposition leaders the possibility of removing Muizzu by January 2024. "And within weeks, a plan emerged,” it added.
The document, obtained by The Washington Post, also proposed paying 10 senior army and police officers and three powerful criminal gangs to ensure Muizzu’s removal. To pay off the various parties, the conspirators sought 87 million Maldivian rufiyaa, or $6 million, and according to two Maldivian officials, it would be sought from India.
After months of secret talks, the plotters failed to gather enough votes to impeach Muizzu, and India did not pursue or finance an attempt to oust him.
The Washington Post report says secret contacts between Indian agents and politicians in the Maldives over ousting its pro-China leader reflect the growing contest between Asia’s great powers.
According to it, the Maldivian plot and its backstory offer a rare view into the much broader, often shadowy struggle between India and China for influence over a strategic swath of Asia and its surrounding waters.
This competition has unfolded particularly in the smaller nations around the Indian Ocean, where the continent’s two largest powers have offered generous loans, infrastructure projects and political support — both public and covert — to bolster their preferred politicians.
According to Washington Post report, Muizzu became a problem for India after he took over as the president on 17 November 2023. In fiery speeches, he pledged to expel Indian troops from the Maldives.
He was instead friendly with China, India’s regional rival, and sought to sign a military assistance pact with Beijing.
FE ONLINE DESK
Published :
Dec 31, 2024 23:45
Updated :
Dec 31, 2024 23:57
India’s intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), was allegedly involved in a plot to remove Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu after he had pledged to expel Indian troops stationed in his island nation.
Under the plot, Maldivian opposition politicians proposed bribing 40 members of parliament, including those from Muizzu’s own party, to vote to impeach him, The Washington Post reports quoting an internal document titled “Democratic Renewal Initiative”.
According to the report, agents working at the behest of RAW, began quietly discussing with Maldivian opposition leaders the possibility of removing Muizzu by January 2024. "And within weeks, a plan emerged,” it added.
The document, obtained by The Washington Post, also proposed paying 10 senior army and police officers and three powerful criminal gangs to ensure Muizzu’s removal. To pay off the various parties, the conspirators sought 87 million Maldivian rufiyaa, or $6 million, and according to two Maldivian officials, it would be sought from India.
After months of secret talks, the plotters failed to gather enough votes to impeach Muizzu, and India did not pursue or finance an attempt to oust him.
The Washington Post report says secret contacts between Indian agents and politicians in the Maldives over ousting its pro-China leader reflect the growing contest between Asia’s great powers.
According to it, the Maldivian plot and its backstory offer a rare view into the much broader, often shadowy struggle between India and China for influence over a strategic swath of Asia and its surrounding waters.
This competition has unfolded particularly in the smaller nations around the Indian Ocean, where the continent’s two largest powers have offered generous loans, infrastructure projects and political support — both public and covert — to bolster their preferred politicians.
According to Washington Post report, Muizzu became a problem for India after he took over as the president on 17 November 2023. In fiery speeches, he pledged to expel Indian troops from the Maldives.
He was instead friendly with China, India’s regional rival, and sought to sign a military assistance pact with Beijing.
