In a further escalation of his anti-India stance, Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu has reiterated that no Indian military personnel, including those in civilian attire, will be allowed inside the country after May 10, as reported by media on March 5th.
Mr. Muizzu’s declaration follows closely behind the arrival of an Indian civilian team in the Maldives, tasked with assuming control of one of the three aviation platforms in the island nation. This occurred well before the March 10 deadline agreed upon by both nations for the withdrawal of Indian military personnel.
During his tour of the Baa atoll Eydhafushi residential community, the President addressed the gathering, emphasizing his government’s achievement in expelling Indian troops from the country. He noted that some individuals spreading false rumors were attempting to distort the situation, as reported by news portal Edition.mv.
The portal quoted Mr. Muizzu, widely recognized as a pro-China leader, as cautioning against rumors suggesting that Indian military personnel are not leaving but rather returning after changing into civilian clothing. He emphasized the importance of not entertaining such thoughts that sow doubt and spread falsehoods.
“On May 10, there will be no presence of Indian troops in the country, whether in uniform or civilian attire. The Indian military will not be stationed in our nation under any guise. I affirm this with certainty,” he declared, coinciding with the day his country inked an agreement with China for the provision of complimentary military assistance.
In the wake of a significant meeting held in Delhi on February 2 between both parties, the Maldivian Foreign Ministry announced that India would replace its military personnel operating the three aviation platforms in the Maldives by May 10, with the initial phase scheduled for completion by March 10. Consistently, in his inaugural address to Parliament on February 5, he reiterated similar sentiments.
A total of 88 military personnel currently operate the three Indian platforms, which have been rendering humanitarian and medical evacuation services to the people of the Maldives for the past few years. These platforms utilize two helicopters and a Dornier aircraft for their operations.
Riding to power last year on an anti-India platform, Mr. Muizzu swiftly demanded the removal of Indian personnel from the strategically positioned archipelago in the Indian Ocean within hours of taking oath. According to Edition.mv, the initial departure of troops from the country includes Indian military personnel operating the two helicopters in Addu City. Additionally, it is anticipated that military personnel stationed in Haa Dhaalu atoll Hanimaadhoo and Laamu atoll Kahdhoo will also depart ahead of the May 10 deadline.
India had consented to withdraw its troops from the Maldives on the condition that an equivalent number of civilian personnel were brought in to operate the aircraft.
According to the portal, the Opposition has been vocal in criticizing the administration, alleging that the Indian civilians sent to the Maldives are actually military officials in civilian attire, and that the government lacks the means to verify this.
Meanwhile, local media reports have also indicated that the Maldives has established a partnership with Sri Lanka to conduct medical evacuation flights, underscoring its commitment to remove all Indian troops, regardless of their categorization.
Emphasizing his unwavering commitment to achieving genuine independence, the President underscored the importance of efforts directed towards reclaiming the southern maritime area lost by the country, alongside the expulsion of Indian troops from the Maldives.
“I am confident in our ability to accomplish this. The delay in fulfilling this objective is attributed to the unfavorable procedures employed during implementation, which were carried out without parliamentary consultation, in violation of the Constitution,” the President stated, as quoted by the portal.
Due to its proximity to India, being just 70 nautical miles from the island of Minicoy in Lakshadweep and 300 nautical miles from the western coast of the mainland, as well as its position at the crossroads of commercial sea routes traversing the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), the Maldives holds considerable strategic significance.
The Maldives has long been recognized as a crucial maritime neighbor for India in the IOR. It plays a pivotal role in India’s initiatives such as SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) and the Neighbourhood First Policy.
