Maldives a challenge, says India naval chief

The Maldives is a ‘challenge’ because of its pivot to China, India’s naval chief has said.

Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lamba told media Wednesday that India would continue to work its smaller South Asian neighbour despite its inclination towards Beijing, with his comments suggesting that relations are yet to fully recover from months of tension and bickering.

China’s growing presence and a controversial state of emergency in the Maldives have been the two main sources of tension in recent times for India, which has found itself out in the cold in its own backyard.

The Maldives earlier this year also skipped an India-led naval exercise, citing a “heightened stance of readiness” because of the state of emergency.