MALE: Mohamed Muizzu, the newly elected president of the Maldives, has stirred international concerns by vowing to end foreign military presence in his strategically important atoll nation. Although Muizzu did not explicitly mention India, the statement is a cause for alarm as India is currently the sole foreign power with military deployment in the Maldives.
The president-elect, who won the election with an “India-out” campaign, made his declaration during his first public rally after the Saturday runoff election. Speaking in Male, Muizzu asserted, “We will be sending back troops based in the Maldives according to law, and for sure we will do that accordingly. The people of the Maldives have decided.”
India had deployed a unit of security personnel to operate four reconnaissance aircraft gifted to the Maldives, used for patrolling its extensive maritime territory.
Outgoing President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih had worked to strengthen relations with India, steering the nation away from the influence of China, which had been significantly expanded under his predecessor Abdulla Yameen. Yameen, closely associated with Muizzu, had moved the Maldives into Beijing’s orbit, incurring heavy debts for infrastructure projects.
Muizzu’s victory also saw the release of Yameen, who was serving an 11-year jail sentence. Yameen was transferred to house arrest in Male, indicating potential political shifts within the Maldives.
Muizzu Emphasizes Commitment to Maldives
Despite media portrayals of him as a pro-China leader, Muizzu emphasized his commitment to the Maldives, stating, “My top priority will be the Maldives and its situation. We will be choosing to be pro-Maldives. Any nation who respects and abides by our pro-Maldives policy is considered a close friend of the Maldives.”
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was among the first leaders to congratulate Muizzu, emphasizing India’s commitment to strengthening bilateral ties. China, too, congratulated the president-elect, expressing a willingness to deepen cooperation and consolidate their friendship.
The Maldives, consisting of atolls spread across 800 kilometers, holds strategic importance as it lies along one of the world’s busiest east-west shipping routes, making any political shifts in the region a matter of regional and global concern.
