Punching above its weight

The intensely acerbic and provocative tone adopted by the foreign ministry officials of the Maldives does not behove the government of the tiny archipelago in the Indian Ocean.

India has not only been a friendly neighbour, but also a protector for a nation against its own malcontents in not very distant past.

Not only these, the tiny nation’s economy has much to do with tourists it draws from India.

Furthermore, it may have to look towards India given the ominous forebodings emanating from the rise in the ocean level related with climate-change, something that predicts extinction of the islands.

The newly elected President Mr. Mohamed Muizzu on Sunday asked India to withdraw its army personnel from the islands by March 15.

The note is in total disregard of the bilateral interest on which the ties of the two neighbours are predicated.

It was only last week that India protested the unsavoury remarks made by two of the deputy ministers and a legislator of a coalition partner against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Though the ministers were suspended, cussedness introduced by remarks has drawn the ire of the previous government headed by Mohamed Solih.

It is rather sad that Mr. Muizzu and his party have won the current mandate on a narrow and negative agenda of sending out the Indian military personnel who are needed to service the aircraft gifted by India.

Muizzu wants the personnel to be withdrawn by March 15. Coming as it does after his 5-day China visit, the notice carries a China link.

It will be strategically unwise for the tiny nation to ditch a standby neighbour and protector in lieu of the assurances from the far off China.

The tiny nation is oblivious of the consequences of punching far above its weight by annoying a neighbour which has always been at hand to help without asking anything in return.