EFSAS comments on Chinese FM’s travels to the Maldives and Sri Lanka
January 14, 2022
Maldives, like Sri Lanka, is part of China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which the United States (US) has labeled a “debt trap” for smaller nations. The Solih-led regime, therefore, has also sought to balance the equation with China by displaying more interest in the broader Indo-Pacific developments this year. It has even engaged with the US in its first annual security and defence dialogue, and is likely to host the US’ first diplomatic mission in the country soon.