Asked about his thoughts on President Dr Mohamed Muizzu implying that India is a 'bully', Nasheed responded that it is a statement that is 'outrageous' and should not have been made by any person.
Former President and Speaker of Parliament Mohamed Nasheed has stated that he would always choose India over China when it comes to seeking development aid for the country.
Nasheed made these remarks while speaking at the Republic Summit 2024, hosted by Republic Media Network in Delhi on March 7. The summit, titled this year as 'Bharat: The Next Decade', aimed to confer on India's future with a line up of leading figures from the nation as well as a number of visiting guests such as Nasheed.
Asked about his thoughts on President Dr Mohamed Muizzu implying that India is a 'bully', Nasheed responded that it is a statement that is 'outrageous' and should not have been made by any person.
"When 'little Maldives' asked India that they would want the troops gone, you know what India did? They agreed. There was no muscle display, there was no arm twisting...they just wanted to have a conversation, find out how this can reasonably be done," Nasheed said, adding, "That's not the actions of a bully".
Nasheed said that despite being one of the strongest nations in the world, India respected the wishes of a small island state, and described it as the actions of a responsible superpower. He pointed out the many instances in which India had extended aid and assistance to the Maldives in times of need, and stated that he would always condemn any such statements made against the country.
"Here is a responsible superpower rising, and I like it. I want to see India rise, and I strongly believe our safety and our security is linked," Nasheed asserted.
Nasheed stated that after every election, countries in this region see a shift in alliance from one power to the other, and described it as a product of multi party democracy.
"If I say it is white, my opposition will instantly come out and say that it is black, so there is that element to it as well."
However, he highlighted the importance of maintaining a stable foreign policy, which is more centered and not swinging from one power to the other.
However, Nasheed then went on to criticize China's approach in providing aid.
He claims that China provides multiple loans for infrastructural projects in countries in this region, which people tend to consider as development. He said China intentionally raises the price of projects so that the business plans fail. This results in failure on the part of the nations to pay back the loans, at which point China asks for equity, he said.
"And with equity, we lose more sovereignty," Nasheed alleged.
"I do not think we should measure development with concrete... Development is what happens to you, your own prosperity and your own happiness," he said.
He said, on the contrary, India's projects are designed in a manner to be smaller projects that have a larger impact on citizens themselves, thereby making them more effective for development in its true sense.
"I am very glad that Indian projects go through a tendering process. We know where the money is coming from. It's not just a vanity project for some minister," Nasheed said.
"There is a marked difference between what we get from India and what we get from China. I would go for Indian assistance any day."
Nasheed also voiced doubts regarding the recent military cooperation contract Maldives signed with China, claiming he believes it to be no more than a 'supply contract for rubber bullets and tear gas'.
Nasheed repeatedly asserted that an "anti-India sentiment is not a Maldives' sentiment".
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