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Reuters

The Maldives has called for India to withdraw troops from its territory by March 15, an official said on Sunday, in a step that will further strain ties between the South Asian neighbours.
President Mohamed Muizzu won the election last year on a pledge to end the Maldives’ “India first” policy, in a region where New Delhi and Beijing compete for influence.
A contingent of around 80 Indian soldiers are stationed on the Indian Ocean archipelago to provide support for military equipment given to the Maldives by New Delhi and assist in humanitarian activities in the region.
In talks at the foreign ministry between senior delegations from both countries, Muizzu proposed that the soldiers leave.
Is India-China rivalry over Maldives set to deepen or ‘more fiction than fact’?
“In this meeting, on behalf of President Muizzu, the Maldivian delegation proposed the removal of Indian troops by March 15,” Ahmed Nazim, Policy Director at the President’s Office told reporters.
“This date was proposed in the agenda by the government and specifically the president. These discussions are ongoing.”
In his campaign, Muizzu called New Delhi’s huge influence a threat to sovereignty and pledged to remove Indian troops.
“The most important point to note here is that Indian troops cannot stay in the Maldives. That’s the policy of this government. It is also the president’s pledge and what the people of Maldives want,” Nazim added.
India’s foreign ministry confirmed that a wide range of issues on bilateral cooperation were discussed between the two countries but the statement was quiet on the issue of the soldiers’ departure from the islands.
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“Both sides also held discussions on finding mutually workable solutions to enable continued operation of Indian aviation platforms that provide humanitarian and medvac services to the people of Maldives,” the statement said.
China and the Maldives upgraded their relationship during Muizzu’s first state visit to Beijing last week by agreeing to a “comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership” that sets the stage for the Asian giant to up its investments in the Maldives.
The Maldives owes China US$1.37 billion, equivalent to around 20 per cent of its public debt, according to World Bank data.
After his state visit to China, Muizzu said on Saturday that his country’s small size does not give anyone the licence to bully it, in a sign of defiance towards India.

“We are a free and independent nation. So this territorial integrity is something China respects firmly,” said Muizzu, signalling the Maldives government’s effort to break from India’s influence.
Muizzu also said China sent the largest number of tourists to the Maldives before the Covid-19 pandemic and steps would be taken to double that number.
He also announced plans that, if implemented, will enable the Maldives to break from its dependence on India.
Additional reporting by Associated Press


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Maldives

Maldives tells India to withdraw troops by March 15 as it draws closer to China

Chinese President Xi Jinping and President of the Republic of Maldives Mohamed Muizzu after their talks in Beijing on January 10. Photo: Xinhua/Liu Bin

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (right) shakes hands with then Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solihas in New Delhi on December 17, 2018. Photo: AFP

Is India-China rivalry over Maldives set to deepen after troop withdrawal order or ‘more fiction than fact’?

Maldives’ President Mohammed Muizzu speaks has vowed to expel Indian troops from the island nation. Photo: AFP

A map showing the strategically located island nation of the Maldives and neighbouring countries. Photo: OpenStreetMap 

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi shakes hands with then Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih prior to a meeting in New Delhi on December 17, 2018. Photo: AFP

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India Prime Minister Narendra Modi promotes the islands of Lakshadweep in a photo released on January 4, 2024. Photo: X/Narendra Modi

Male, the capital city of the Maldives. Photo: Shutterstock 

India Prime Minister Narendra Modi promotes the islands of Lakshadweep in a photo released on January 4. Photo: X/Narendra Modi

Maldivian leader Mohamed Muizzu came to power on an anti-India campaign. Photo: AP 

Indians and Russians form the bulk of visitors to the Maldives. Photo: dpa

In jab at India, President Muizzu says Maldives’ small size not a licence to bully

Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcoming ceremony for his Maldivian counterpart Mohamed Muizzu (right) in Beijing on January 10. Photo: Xinhua

Belt and road: Maldives’ president vows greater cooperation with China on infrastructure projects

Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu (left) arrives in Fujian for a state visit to China. Photo: SCMP

Maldives President Muizzu lands in China on Monday for a state visit until Friday. He is the first state head welcomed by China this year. Photo: Facebook/President’s Office

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Illustration: Craig Stephens

News

Asia

South Asia

India has been told its troops ‘cannot stay’ in the Maldives during a meeting between the delegations from both countries
The request by the Maldives comes after President Mohamed Muizzu said China firmly respects ‘territorial integrity’


The request by the Maldives comes after President Mohamed Muizzu said China firmly respects ‘territorial integrity’.


China-India relations

India

Diplomacy

Maldives tells India to withdraw troops by March 15 as it draws closer to China

India has been told its troops ‘cannot stay’ in the Maldives during a meeting between the delegations from both countries The request by the Maldives comes after President Mohamed Muizzu said China firmly respects ‘territorial integrity’

India has been told its troops ‘cannot stay’ in the Maldives during a meeting between the delegations from both countries

The request by the Maldives comes after President Mohamed Muizzu said China firmly respects ‘territorial integrity’