Now its United States' turn to campaign for support in India and Indonesia

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will visit the Maldives this week after top-level talks in India - which offered open support when the Pentagon finally went ahead with a defence pact with the island nation in September. - Reuters

WASHINGTON, Oct 25 (AFP): When the United States tried to seal a defence deal seven years ago with the Maldives, a sprawling and strategic archipelago, its plans were quietly torpedoed by a friend -- India, which considers the Indian Ocean its sphere of influence.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will visit the Maldives this week after top-level talks in India -- which offered open support when the Pentagon finally went ahead with a defence pact with the island nation in September.