Last week, the Maldives elected the former Opposition leader, Mohamed Muizzu, as its next president against the tense backdrop of India-China rivalries in the Indian Ocean archipelago. Mr Muizzu’s victory has been described by many commentators as a triumph for China, given the pro-Beijing and anti-India comments that the president-elect and his family have made in recent years. But the election outcome in Male is a moment that should make India reflect more deeply about its relations with its neighbours beyond limiting its assessments to a zero-sum game with China. Mr Muizzu defeated Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, who came to power in 2018 after winning against his predecessor, Abdulla Yameen, of the Progressive Party of Maldives. At the time, Mr Yameen faced allegations of pushing the Maldives into Chinese debt over costly infrastructure loans and Mr Solih promised to prioritise ties with India. Yet, five years later, the tables have turned. A small Indian troop contingent in the Maldives — merely 75 soldiers — has sparked allegations by Mr Yameen’s party, which Mr Mui­zzu now heads, that the outgoing government was allowing New Delhi to militarily intervene in the nation of half a million people. An anti-India campaign helped consolidate sentiments against Mr Solih, culminating in his ouster.

It would be tempting for policymakers and strategic thinkers in New Delhi to view the power shift in Male solely as evidence of Chinese influence operations in South Asia. To be sure, Beijing’s clout has grown across the region. Mr Muizzu had previously told the Chinese Communist Party that a win for his party would help improve ties between Male and Beijing. Still, it is worth remembering that unlike many other nations around the world, India — not China — is the Maldives’ biggest trading partner. Indian tourists are a major source of revenue for the Maldives, though they number fewer than Chinese visitors. From water crises to economic challenges, India has frequently come to the Maldives’ aid. But in recent years, India has also deployed harder tools of diplomacy, including enhanced military engagement, in public. Small nations are often more suspicious of a proximate giant than one that is relatively distant. Consider the cases of Vietnam and China or Latin American nations and the United States of America. India must stay sensitive to this reality as it tries to manage its relationship with the Maldives’ incoming government and reflect on what more it can do to build trust in its neighbourhood.