Maldives presidential elections to challenge anti-India policy amid rising tensions.

The Indian Ocean island nation of Maldives is renowned for its luxurious holiday offerings, including pristine beaches and secluded resorts. However, beyond its scenic beauty, the country’s strategic location has made it a focal point in geopolitical discussions. With a chain of 1,192 small coral islands spanning approximately 800 kilometers across the equator, Maldives sits along crucial global east-west shipping lanes. President Mohamed Muizzu, who assumed office after last September’s election, has been making notable political moves, including the release of former president Abdulla Yameen from an 11-year jail term for corruption.

Muizzu’s administration has also initiated the process of sending home 89 Indian troops, who were operating reconnaissance aircraft gifted by India to patrol the archipelago’s maritime borders. Despite these developments, Muizzu has faced challenges from the parliament, with lawmakers blocking his nominees to the cabinet and rejecting some of his spending proposals. This political landscape has also seen divisions within the major political parties, making it difficult for any single party to secure a majority. The release of Yameen from house arrest is seen as a positive development for Muizzu’s prospects.

A court in the capital, Male, has ordered a retrial in the graft and money laundering cases that led to Yameen’s imprisonment after he lost a re-election bid in 2018. With around 285,000 eligible voters, the upcoming election is expected to shape the country’s political future. Results are anticipated shortly after the voting. *Note: The headline is the only part of this story that has been edited by NDTV staff.

The rest of the content is published from a syndicated feed. *