India’s relationship with the Maldives started going downhill after the latter's elections in September 2023. Mohamed Muizzu won the presidential polls with the campaign slogan “India Out”. President Muizzu has been openly pro-China and this has resulted in a whirlwind in India-Maldives ties. It started with a war of words over Lakshadweep, to the docking of Chinese spy vessel Xiang Yang Hong 03, and the decision to evict Indian military personnel from Maldives. This has also resulted in India losing its top stop in the Maldives tourism sector to China on March 5, 2024.