Male: Post his party's massive electoral victory in the recently concluded parliamentary elections in the Maldives, country's former President Mohamed Nasheed claimed that his country will continue its India-first policy but will also maintain friendly relations with other nations as well.
While talking exclusively to ETV Bharat on this issue foreign policy expert and Observer Research Foundation's distinguished fellow Professor Harsh V Pant claimed, 'no country in India's neighborhood would like to make a choice between India and China.
Ultimately, they would like to deal with both countries in their own terms. And, India should be prepared for that.'
However, he also pointed saying that the Maldives has certainly done a lot course correction of its once strained ties with India.
He said, 'there was a point of time in India Maldives relations when the Maldives has weighed too much on China. In that aspect, there is already a course correction taking place which do well for both India and Maldives.'
On Mohamed Nasheed's claim that the Maldives is going to scrutinize all the infrastructure deals signed with China.
Harsh Pant said, 'it was happening across various countries where China has invested. There is a perception that China tries to interfere in local politics by using its money.'
India's relationship with the Maldives hit a roadblock under former President Abdulla Yameen's regime.
During this time, Yakeen led government signed several projects with China-backed loan.
