India completes troop withdrawal from Maldives at request of pro-China leader, Mohamed Muizzu

India pulled out its last remaining soldiers stationed in the Maldives, meeting a deadline for their withdrawal that strained ties between the two neighbours

Pro-China President Mohamed Muizzu won office last year while campaigning on a pledge to reduce New Delhi’s influence in favour of a greater role for Beijing

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Indian Border Security Forces. At the urging of the Maldives, India has completely withdrawn its troops from the archipelago in the Indian Ocean. Photo: AFP/File

Published: 7:19pm, 10 May 2024

India pulled out its last remaining soldiers stationed in the Maldives on Friday, meeting a deadline for their withdrawal that had strained ties between the two neighbours.

Pro-China President Mohamed Muizzu won office last year while campaigning on a promise to downgrade ties with India, and has since reoriented the strategically placed archipelago nation towards Beijing.

After coming to power, he demanded the withdrawal of Indian soldiers who had been stationed in the upscale beach holiday destination to assist with maritime patrols.

The third and final batch of 27 Indian troops left the archipelago on Friday, the official said, declining to be named as they were not authorised to speak to media.

Another 51 soldiers had left the atoll nation by Tuesday, according to Indian and Maldivian officials.

The foreign ministry official added that there was no public ceremony held to mark the end of the Indian military deployment.