The upcoming Maldives’ presidential election on September 9 is unfolding as a competitive race, with incumbent Ibrahim Mohamed Solih facing off against seven challengers.
These include Mohamed Muizzu, the Mayor of Malé, from the Progressive Alliance, Qasim Ibrahim from the Jumhooree Party (JP), IlyasLabeeb representing the Democrats, former Defense Minister Mohamed Nazim from the Maldives National Party (MNP), and three independent candidates: FarisMaumoon, Umar Naseer, and Hassan Zameel.The election’s local dynamics are intertwined with significant international implications. The Maldives’ strategic location along crucial Indian Ocean shipping lanes has attracted attention from competing external powers, primarily India and China. India’s interest arises from geographical proximity, while China’s focus is driven by the Maldives’ strategic maritime position, aligned with routes critical for China’s energy transport and the Maritime Silk Route of its Belt and Road Initia
While Muizzu’s victory could see a tilt toward China in the archipelago’s foreign policy, India and its Quad partners will cheer President Solih’s re-election.
Faced with a stiff challenge from Washington to its designs in the Indo-Pacific region, Beijing is now trying to misguide the world by making false claims about
Faced with a stiff challenge from Washington to its designs in the Indo-Pacific region, Beijing is now trying to misguide the world by making false claims about the success of its initiatives in the Indo-Pacific region.
According to the statement, "Building on the recent constructive meeting between Prime Minister Albanese and President Xi in Bali on the sidelines of the G20 Summit, tomorrow Foreign Minister Penny Wong will travel to Beijing at the invitation of the People's Republic of China to meet China's State Councilor and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Wang Yi, and hold the 6th Australia-China Foreign and Strategic Dialogue."