Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu has issued a deadline for the withdrawal of Indian military personnel from his country emphasizing that the Indian troops must vacate by March 15.
The announcement follows President Muizzu’s recent state visit to China, marking a notable upgrade in diplomatic ties between Malé and Beijing.
Diplomatic tensions between India and Maldives escalated following derogatory comments made by Maldivian ministers against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim, the public policy secretary at the President’s Office, emphasized, “Indian military personnel cannot stay in the Maldives. This is the policy of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu and that of this administration.”
According to the reports, approximately 88 Indian troops were currently stationed in the Maldives.
The call for the withdrawal of Indian troops aligns with President Muizzu’s election promise and his “India Out” campaign.
The media reported that both nations have established a high-level core group to negotiate the troop withdrawal, with the group’s inaugural meeting held at the Foreign Ministry Headquarters in Male’.
During the meeting, discussions covered bilateral cooperation, ongoing development projects, and efforts to find a mutually workable solution to ensure the continued operation of Indian aviation platforms providing humanitarian services in the Maldives.
The next meeting of the High-Level Core Group is scheduled to take place in India.
The diplomatic shift from the previous “India First” policy under Ibrahim Solih to the current “India Out” stance is not abrupt. Abdullah Yameen, Solih’s predecessor, initiated an anti-India campaign in 2013, aligning the Maldives closer to China.
In contrast, Solih maintained friendly ties with India during his tenure from 2018 to 2023. President Muizzu, while seeking a balance between India and China, has affirmed that he does not intend to replace Indian military personnel with Chinese troops.
