Indian military personnel operating surveillance aircraft in the Maldives have started pulling out of the Maldives after the newly elected President of the island country ordered withdrawal of troops.
According to a report in Miharu newspaper, 25 Indian soldiers deployed in the southernmost atoll of Addu had left the Maldives on Sunday.
There has been no official confirmation from Maldivian or Indian authorities, but Miharu said the Maldivian National Defense Force has confirmed about the withdrawal of Indian troops.
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In January this year, Maldivian President Mohammed Muizzu had asked India to withdraw its troops from the archipelago by March 15.
Muizzu came to power in September as part of a campaign to reduce India’s influence on the island. Muizu is known to share close ties with China. Both India and China have alternately competed for influence in the small island nation, investing heavily in upgrading the Maldives’ infrastructure and extending loans to it.
President Mohammed Muizzu says, ‘No Indian soldiers will remain in Maldives, not even in civilian clothes.’
Indian Army deployed in Maldives
Maldives is India’s key maritime neighbor in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and holds a special place in the Narendra Modi-led central government’s initiatives like SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) and Neighbors First policy.
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India operates and maintains radars, helicopters and aircraft in the Maldives, some of which are used for medical evacuation. The Indian Navy also patrols the Indian Ocean waters. Currently, there are around 70 Indian military personnel in Maldives. At least 24 military personnel manage the first helicopter, 25 personnel manage the Dornier aircraft, 26 personnel manage the second helicopter and two look after maintenance and engineering.
What is the President of Maldives saying
Last week, Maldives President Mohammed Muizzu had said that no Indian military personnel, including those in civilian clothes, would be allowed in his country after May 10.
Maldives and China have signed an agreement paving the way for more Chinese military aid to Male. Since assuming office, Muizzu has been keen to strengthen ties with China and distance himself from India.
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India slipped to sixth place in the list of the island nation’s ‘Top 10 Markets’, according to Maldives Tourism Ministry report. Meanwhile, China has steadily climbed from 10th to first place on the chart. China now makes up the majority of total tourist arrivals in the Maldives – about 12 percent as of March 5.
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Published: March 12, 2024, 12:39 pm IST
