President Mohammad Muizzoo of the Maldives has formally requested the withdrawal of Indian troops stationed in his country by March 15. The request was made to officials of the Indian Embassy in the Maldives, according to Abdullah Nazim Ibrahim, an aide to the President.
The issue of troop withdrawal was discussed during a high-level bilateral meeting held in the capital, Male, on Sunday. This move comes after President Muizzoo’s return from a visit to China, during which he stated that larger countries should not oppress smaller ones.
According to international media, at least 75 Indian soldiers are currently stationed on the island of Maldives. Since 2021, the Indian Army has been operating military aircraft given by the Indian government in 2020, primarily for rescue work.
President Muizzoo, who led the party that strongly advocated for the withdrawal of the Indian army from the Maldives before the presidential election, has accused opposition leaders of compromising national sovereignty by allowing Indian troops to remain on their islands.
Tensions between the Maldives and India have been escalating since President Muizzoo’s election, particularly after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Lakshadweep. This visit sparked a reaction from three Deputy Ministers of the Maldives, bringing the dispute to the surface and leading to a “Boycott Maldives” campaign in India.
The Maldivian government dismissed the remarks made against India by Modi and the three ministers as personal, and President Muizzoo suspended the ministers, stating that opposing India was not his government’s policy.
Upon returning from Beijing, President Muizzoo announced plans to reduce dependence on India and seek alternatives for education and health services in countries such as Thailand and the UAE. He also stated that the Maldives could import drugs directly from Europe and the United States.
Previously, most food items in the Maldives were imported from India. However, according to the Associated Press, President Muizzoo said they could now import from Turkey as well.
Tourism may also be affected by the deteriorating relationship between the two countries. Indians make up 11% of tourists visiting the Maldives, and international media predict a decrease in the number of tourists following the recent developments.
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