Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu has escalated his anti-India rhetoric by declaring that no Indian military personnel, even those in civilian attire, will be permitted inside the country after May 10, according to a recent media report. This announcement marks a significant shift in diplomatic relations between the Maldives and India. Muizzu’s statement underscores a growing tension between the two nations, raising concerns about the future of their bilateral ties.
Key Points
- Maldives President says Indian troops will not be allowed after May 10
- Some people are propagating stories about Indian troops leaving the Maldives. he said
- Says Indian troops in civilian clothes will not be permitted to enter.
A day after the Maldives signed an agreement with China to receive free military aid, Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu stated that no Indian troops, including those in civilian clothing, would be present in the country. be allowed to enter the island nation after May 10, Maldives’ news portal Edition. mv reported.
Muizzu’s remarks came as an Indian civilian team arrived in the Maldives to take responsibility for one of the island nation’s three aircraft platforms, well ahead of the two countries’ March 10 deadline for the removal of Indian military personnel.
Addressing a community on Baa atoll Eydhafushi, Muizzu claimed that people were circulating rumors about his government’s ‘success’ in withdrawing Indian forces from the Maldives, according to Edition. mv.
These individuals from the Indian military are not departing; rather, they are returning after changing out of their uniforms and into civilian attire. We must not entertain such thoughts that instill doubt in our hearts and spread lies, Muizzu, a widely recognized pro-China leader, said, according to the portal.
There will be no Indian troops in the nation after May 10. Not in uniform or civilian dress. The Indian soldiers will not be allowed to enter this country while dressed in any manner. “I say this confidently,” he said.
Emphasizing the utmost importance of securing genuine independence, Muizzu highlighted that his government is taking necessary measures “to reclaim the southern maritime area lost by the country, along with the expulsion of Indian troops from the Maldives.”
“I am confident that we can accomplish this. The delay in finalizing this task is attributed to the unfavorable procedures employed during the implementation. It was carried out without even bringing the matter to Parliament, violating the Constitution,” the President was quoted as saying by the portal.
Muizzu’s statement came during a diplomatic spat over Maldivian lawmakers’ disparaging remarks about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s January visit to Lakshadweep, which soured relations between the two countries.
For the past few years, three Indian platforms have been providing humanitarian and medical evacuation services to the people of the Maldives utilizing two helicopters and a Dornier aircraft, with 88 military men on board.
The Maldivian Foreign Ministry said that India would replace the military officers in charge of the three aircraft platforms in the Maldives by May 10; the first phase of the procedure would be finished by March 10. This announcement followed a high-level discussion between the two sides on February 2 in Delhi.
Known for being a pro-China politician, Muizzu was elected president of the island nation in November of last year and committed to expelling Indian military forces.
Edition. mv also reported that the first troops to leave the country were the Indian military personnel operating the two helicopters in Addu City. Additionally, the military personnel stationed in Haa Dhaalu Atoll Hanimaadhoo and Laamu Atoll Kahdhoo are also expected to depart ahead of the May 10 deadline.
India had agreed to withdraw their troops from the Maldives on the condition that a corresponding number of their civilians would be brought in to operate the aircraft in place of the military personnel.
Also Read: Jagan
The Maldives’ strategic significance is underscored by its proximity to India, lying just 70 nautical miles from the island of Minicoy in Lakshadweep and 300 nautical miles from the western coast of the mainland. Additionally, its position at the nexus of commercial sea lanes traversing the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) further enhances its strategic importance.
The Maldives play an important role as India’s principal maritime neighbor in the Indian Ocean Region. It occupies a special role in Indian initiatives such as SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) and the Neighbourhood First Policy.