MALE: India has agreed to withdraw its troops from the Maldives by May, according to a statement from the Maldivian Foreign Ministry on Saturday. Approximately 80 soldiers stationed in the Indian Ocean archipelago will be replaced by civilians in a bid to reach an agreement on the pullout, which has been a point of contention between the two nations.
As global powers vie for influence in the Indo-Pacific region, India and China have both sought to strengthen their ties with the Maldives. Tensions escalated after Mohamed Muizzu assumed the presidency last year, pledging to shift away from the country’s “India First” policy.
Indian Troops in Maldives
President Muizzu called for the withdrawal of Indian troops stationed in the Maldives by March 15, citing a desire to end the “India First” approach and emphasizing the need for self-reliance.
According to the Maldives, the first batch of Indian troops will depart by March 10, with the remaining soldiers expected to leave by May 10. The decision was reached during a high-level meeting in the Indian capital, addressing various issues concerning bilateral cooperation.
India’s foreign ministry stated that the two countries “agreed on a set of mutually workable solutions to enable the continued operation of Indian aviation platforms” that provide humanitarian services to the Maldives. However, the ministry did not provide a specific timeframe for the troop withdrawal.
The next bilateral meeting between the two nations is scheduled to take place in Male in the last week of February, as both sides work towards resolving issues.
