Maldives Asks India To Withdraw Troops By March 15

Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu has formally requested India to withdraw its military personnel from the Maldives by March 15, as tensions between the two nations escalate. The request comes nearly two months after Muizzu took office and initially sought the removal of Indian troops. Currently, there are 88 Indian military personnel stationed in the Maldives, according to government figures.

Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim, the public policy secretary at the President’s Office, emphasized the administration’s policy, stating, “Indian military personnel cannot stay in the Maldives.” The call for withdrawal follows a meeting of the high-level core group, established by Maldives and India, to negotiate the troop withdrawal. The meeting, held at the Foreign Ministry Headquarters in Male’, included Indian High Commissioner Munu Mahawar.

President Muizzu, known for his pro-China stance, made the formal request soon after assuming office on November 17. The strained relations between the two countries were exacerbated by derogatory comments posted on social media by three deputy ministers of the Muizzu government against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Muizzu suspended the ministers, leading to concerns in India and potential calls for a tourist boycott.

Muizzu’s recent state visit to China further signaled a shift in alignment towards Beijing. During a press conference upon returning from China, he indirectly criticized India, stating, “We may be small, but that doesn’t give you the license to bully us.” Muizzu announced plans to reduce the Maldives’ dependency on India by diversifying imports of essential commodities and medicine from other countries.

Asserting the Maldives’ sovereignty, Muizzu declared that no country has the right to influence its domestic affairs, regardless of size. The president vowed to resist external influence on the Maldives’ domestic matters. Additionally, Male is reviewing over 100 bilateral agreements with New Delhi signed by the previous government.

The Indian government has not yet confirmed or commented on President Muizzu’s request for the withdrawal of military personnel. The situation highlights the complex geopolitical dynamics in the region and the evolving relationships between nations.