Male: Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu has issued a deadline for India to withdraw its military personnel from the island nation, calling for their departure by March 15.
This directive follows Muizzu's recent state visit to China, where he upgraded diplomatic ties.
The move comes amid heightened tensions between India and Maldives, stemming from derogatory comments made by Maldivian ministers against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi after his visit to the Lakshadweep islands.
Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim, the public policy secretary at the President's Office, affirmed the President's stance, stating, "Indian military personnel cannot stay in the Maldives. This is the policy of President Dr Mohamed Muizzu and that of this administration." Currently, around 88 Indian troops are stationed in Maldives.
Muizzu's call for the withdrawal of Indian troops aligns with a key election promise, emphasising the need to ensure no foreign military presence on Maldivian soil. Maldives and India have established a high-level core group to negotiate the troop withdrawal, with their first meeting held at the Foreign Ministry Headquarters in Male'.
While Muizzu acknowledges the historical significance of Indian military assistance, he asserts the importance of the withdrawal in line with his "India Out" campaign. The Maldivian President aims to strike a balance in ties with both India and China, as Beijing holds economic interests in the region, serving as its largest external creditor.
The shift from Ibrahim Solih's "India First" policy to Muizzu's "India Out" stance is not abrupt, tracing back to the tenure of Abdullah Yameen, who initiated a campaign against India in 2013. His successor, Ibrahim Solih, maintained friendly ties with India from 2018 to 2023. The role of social media and Maldives' Dhiyares News is noted in shaping the narrative against India during Yameen's term.
Despite the geopolitical complexities, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs emphasises the collaborative efforts between India and Maldives to address shared challenges.
India's military platforms in the region contribute significantly to public welfare, humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, and combating illegal maritime activities in the Maldives. The evolving diplomatic scenario underscores the delicate balance President Muizzu seeks to maintain between India and China, particularly concerning economic interests and potential debt traps.