No, India has not 'bought' 28 islands in the Maldives

What is the claim?

Multiple posts circulating on social media have claimed that India has taken control of 28 "strategic islands" in the Maldives.

One such post on X (formerly Twitter) shared by an account named Baba Banaras, a known spreader of misinformation, stated, "Maldives handover its 28 Islands to India. President Muizzu himself signed the agreement." At the time of writing this fact-check, the post had gained 80,900 views, 1,700 reports, and 8,200 likes on the platform. An archived version of this post and similar others are here, here, here, and here. 

Screenshots of viral posts circulating on social media. (Source: X/Screenshot/Modified by Logically Facts)

The claims are being shared against the backdrop of Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar's three-day visit to the Maldives from August 9 to 11. 

However, the claim that India has bought 28 islands from the Maldives is false. 

What did we find?

A Google search led us to reports published by India Today, NDTV, and PTI, which noted that EAM Jaishankar inaugurated and officially handed over the completed water and sanitation projects to the Maldives. The reports stated that the projects, worth approximately Rs 923 crore (USD 110 million), were carried out in 28 Maldivian islands and commissioned by India under the Indian Line of Credit Facility (LoC).

A press release by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) also provided similar details about the projects, as stated in the media reports. The virtual inauguration of the projects was streamed live on the MEA's official YouTube channel (archived here) on August 10, 2024, and is titled "Virtual inauguration of Water and Sanitation Projects in 28 Islands of Maldives (August 10, 2024)." 

Screenshot of the video uploaded by MEA. (Source: YouTube/Screenshot) 

The project was initiated to provide clean drinking water and sewage systems in 28 islands, which would benefit around 28,298 people, covering seven percent of the population, as noted in the official press release by the Maldivian President's office. The project was a part of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between India and Maldives in March 2019 for developing infrastructure and connectivity projects in Maldives under Exim Banks Lines of Credit (LoC). 

Another press release by MEA reported on Jaishankar's remarks at the inaugural ceremony, where he said, "It is really a great pleasure today to be at the President's Office in Maldives for the virtual inauguration and handing over of the Water and Sanitation Projects in 28 islands, commissioned under the Indian Line of Credit in the august presence of the President." 

Additionally, we found a press note from Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu's office, which noted that Jaishankar officially handed over the completed water and sanitation projects of 28 islands to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Maldives, Moosa Zameer, on August 10. 

Muizzu also posted (archived here) on his official X account about the projects, stating, "It was a pleasure to meet @DrSJaishankar today and join him in the official handover of water and sewerage projects in 28 islands of the Maldives. I thank the Government of India, especially Prime Minister @narendramodi for always supporting the Maldives."

Screenshot of the post shared by Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu (Source: X)

The verdict

Media reports and press releases from both the Indian and Maldivian governments confirm that India handed over the completed water and sanitation projects it commissioned on 28 islands to the Maldives. It is false to claim that India took control of 28 Maldivian islands.