The warning comes after President Muizzu's recent visit to China, which marked an improvement in diplomatic relations with Beijing.
Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu has set a deadline for India to withdraw its military personnel from the island nation, emphasizing that Indian troops must leave by March 15.
This announcement comes in the wake of Muizzu's recent state visit to China, which marks an improvement in diplomatic relations with Beijing.
Diplomatic tensions between India and Maldives increased following derogatory comments made by Maldivian ministers against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, leading to his dismissal. President Muizzu, responding to the criticism, stated: “We may be small, but no one has a license to intimidate us.”
Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim, Secretary for Public Policy in the Office of the President, highlighted: “Indian military personnel cannot remain in the Maldives. This is the policy of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu and that of this administration.” Reports indicate the presence of approximately 88 Indian troops in Maldives.
The call for withdrawal of Indian troops is in line with President Muizzu's election promise and his “India Out” campaign. Both nations have established a high-level core group to negotiate the withdrawal of troops, and the inaugural meeting of the group was held at the Foreign Ministry headquarters in Malé.
During the meeting, discussions covered bilateral cooperation, ongoing development projects and finding a mutually viable solution to ensure continued operation of Indian aviation platforms providing humanitarian services in Maldives. The next meeting of the High-Level Core Group is scheduled for 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, started a campaign against India in 2013, bringing 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 stated that he has no intention of replacing Indian military personnel with Chinese troops.
The evolving diplomatic scenario raises concerns about China's economic interests and the potential impact of its debt trap policy on the island nation.
