Maldives-India Tensions Rises as Muizzu Demands Troop Withdrawal by March 15th
Maldivian President Mahamad Muizzu, who recently returned from a trip to China, formally asked India to end its troop presence, Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim, Secretary for Public Policy in the Office of the President, said at a press conference. According to the latest government data, there are 88 Indian military personnel in Maldives. He said, “Indian military personnel cannot stay in Maldives. This is the policy of President Dr Mohammed Muizzu and his administration.”
Maldives and India have formed a high-level core group to discuss the withdrawal of troops. On Sunday the group held its first meeting at the Foreign Ministry headquarters in Male. Indian High Commissioner Munu Mahawar was also present at the meeting, the report said. Nazim confirmed the meeting and said that the agenda of the meeting was a request to withdraw the troops by 15 March. The Indian government did not immediately confirm or comment on the media report.
The move comes amid diplomatic tensions between the two countries after three Maldivian government ministers made “derogatory” comments against Prime Minister Narendra Modi after he posted pictures from his recent visit to Lakshadweep. The Maldivian government had suspended the ministers following a sharp reaction to their comments. The controversy also triggered a large-scale campaign to boycott the Maldives in India.
Muizzu leaning towards china
Maldives President Muizzu, a pro-China leader, has said he will remove all Indian troops from the island during the presidential election campaign. Immediately after taking the oath of office, he also requested India to withdraw its army. He said the people of Maldives have given him a “strong mandate” to make this request to New Delhi. During his recent state visit to China, Muizzu sought to bring the Maldives closer to Beijing.
Amid protests in India, he also requested China to increase tourism in Maldives. Speaking to the press on Saturday after returning from China, President Muizzu indirectly attacked India. Without naming any country, he said, ‘We may be small, but that does not give you license to threaten us.’ He also announced plans to reduce the country’s dependence on India, including securing imports of essential food items and medicines and consumables from other countries. Addressing reporters gathered at Velana International Airport, he said, “We are not in anyone’s backyard. We are an independent and sovereign state.” He said that no country has the right to influence the domestic affairs of any country, no matter its size.
He also vowed that he would not allow any outside influence on the domestic affairs of the Maldives. MLA is also reviewing over 100 bilateral agreements signed by the previous government with New Delhi.
