Image Credits - AP PHOTO
Amidst escalating diplomatic tensions, the Maldivian government has set a March 15 deadline for India to withdraw its military personnel from the country. This move comes a day after Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu indirectly criticized India for “bullying.” The deadline was announced during the first meeting of the India-Maldives high-level core group on Sunday.
Ahmed Nazim, the policy director at the President’s Office, stated that the Maldivian delegation proposed the removal of Indian troops by March 15, emphasizing this as President Muizzu’s policy. However, the deadline was not mentioned in official statements from both India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Maldives Foreign Office.
The MEA statement confirmed the meeting but focused on discussions related to bilateral cooperation and ongoing development projects. It also touched upon finding a solution to enable the continued operation of Indian aviation platforms providing humanitarian and medical evacuation services to the Maldives.
The Maldives Foreign Office statement mentioned “fast-tracking” troop withdrawal but did not specify a deadline. The official revealed that both sides expressed a willingness to intensify cooperation and agreed to expedite the withdrawal of Indian military personnel
Currently, there are 88 Indian military personnel in the Maldives, and the core group was established after a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Muizzu during the COP 28 summit in Dubai.
The strained relations between India and the Maldives began when President Muizzu, soon after taking office in November, formally requested India to withdraw its military personnel. This request, he stated, was based on the “strong mandate” given by the Maldivian people. The recent diplomatic row intensified when three Maldivian deputy ministers posted derogatory comments about Prime Minister Modi on social media, leading to their suspension.
During a state visit to China, Muizzu expressed the intention to reduce the Maldives’ dependency on India, seeking closer alignment with Beijing. He vowed not to allow external influence on the Maldives’ domestic affairs and announced plans to secure imports from other countries. As the March 15 deadline looms and diplomatic complexities heighten, the evolving dynamics between India and the Maldives will continue to shape the geopolitical landscape in the region.