Maldives President Requests Withdrawal of Indian Troops, Pledges to Maintain Regional Security
President Mohamed Muizzu, in a diplomatic shift, seeks to strike a delicate balance between India and China while addressing security concerns, emphasizing collaboration over geopolitical rivalry.
Image Source: Moneycontrol
In a significant development, newly elected Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu has formally requested that Indian military personnel leave the island nation. President Muizzu stated during the inauguration ceremony that the Maldives will have no foreign military presence on its soil. The request came during a meeting with Indian Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, during which both parties agreed to discuss “workable solutions” to the problem.
Currently, India maintains a small contingent of around 70 soldiers in the Maldives, who are primarily responsible for operating India-sponsored radars and surveillance aircraft, as well as patrolling the country’s exclusive economic zone with Indian warships. The Indian military presence has been critical in a variety of ways, including emergency medical evacuations made possible by two Indian helicopters stationed in the region.
Because of its strategic location in the Indian Ocean, the Maldives has evolved into a geopolitical hotspot. Despite its small size and population, the Maldives has piqued the interest of China and India, both of which have invested heavily in development projects as part of long-term geopolitical strategies.
President Muizzu, who took over for Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, has expressed a desire to collaborate with both India and China. He stated that because the Maldives is “too small to be entangled in geopolitical rivalry,” it strives to maintain a balanced approach in its foreign relations.
The region’s geopolitical landscape also includes China, as Muizzu has historical ties with former President Abdulla Yameen, known for heavily borrowing from Beijing during his tenure. While Muizzu expressed a desire to strengthen relations with China, he clarified that the withdrawal of Indian troops does not imply a desire to replace them with Chinese forces.
President Muizzu is balancing bilateral relations with both India and China in the region. During his meeting with Union Minister Rijiju, he focused on the progress of projects supported by India in the Maldives, emphasizing a commitment to strengthen bilateral ties.
As these diplomatic developments play out, the international community will be watching closely to see how the Maldives manages its foreign relations while balancing security concerns and maintaining stability in a region of growing strategic importance.
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