Maldivian President Requests Withdrawal Of Indian Military Personnel By March 15

Male,- In a significant development, Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu has formally requested India to withdraw its military personnel from the country by March 15, according to a senior official at the President’s Office. This comes nearly two months after the Maldives initially sought the removal of Indian military personnel, revealing strains in the historically close relations between the two nations.

As per the latest government figures, there are currently 88 Indian military personnel stationed in the Maldives. Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim, the public policy secretary at the President’s Office, reiterated President Muizzu's stance, emphasizing that Indian military personnel cannot stay in the Maldives, aligning with the policy set by the current administration.

To address this matter, Maldives and India have established a high-level core group, which held its inaugural meeting at the Foreign Ministry Headquarters in Male on Sunday. Indian High Commissioner Munu Mahawar was also in attendance. The primary agenda for the meeting was the formal request for the withdrawal of Indian troops by March 15.

The Indian government has yet to confirm or comment on the media reports regarding the withdrawal request.

President Muizzu, who is considered a pro-China leader, made the formal request shortly after assuming office on November 17. This move follows a diplomatic row between the two nations, sparked by derogatory comments posted on social media by three deputy ministers of the Muizzu government against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The three ministers were subsequently suspended by Muizzu.

The tensions also led to concerns in India, with calls for a potential tourist boycott. Indian tourists currently constitute the highest number of visitors to the Maldives, followed by Russia, while Chinese tourists rank third.

During a recent state visit to China, President Muizzu expressed a desire to strengthen ties with Beijing. In a press statement on Saturday, Muizzu indirectly criticized India, stating, "We may be small, but that doesn’t give you the license to bully us." He also announced plans to reduce the Maldives' dependency on India, including diversifying imports of essential commodities.

President Muizzu emphasized the sovereignty of the Maldives, asserting that no country, regardless of its size, has the right to exert influence over its domestic affairs. In a bid to assert its independence, Male is also reviewing more than 100 bilateral agreements with New Delhi that were signed by the previous government.

As the situation unfolds, the international community is closely monitoring the diplomatic developments between India and the Maldives, both of whom have historically shared strong ties.