In the contested waters of the Indian Ocean, the Maldives is proving that size does not dictate influence. With just over half a million people and limited hard power, the island nation is not merely weathering great-power competition—it is actively shaping it. In Dialogue Episode 49, Dr. Andrea Malji, an expert on South Asia and Indian Ocean geopolitics, explains how geography, governance, and diplomatic agility form the core of Malé’s strategic playbook.