India will withdraw its troops from the island nation of Maldives before May 10

By Sudhi Ranjan Sen

The Maldives said India will withdraw its troops from the island by May 10, a move that fulfills President Mohamed Muizzu’s election promise as he draws closer to China.

India will replace its military personnel operating the three aviation platforms by that date, with the first phase of the disengagement ending on March 10, the Maldives Foreign Ministry said late on Friday after the second high-level meeting between the two sides in New Zealand. Delhi.

Tensions between India and the Maldives have risen since Muizzu came to power in September amid a campaign to reduce India’s influence on the island. Last month, Muizzu had asked New Delhi to withdraw its troops by March 15.

India has about 70 soldiers operating and maintaining radars, helicopters and aircraft in the Maldives, some of which are used for medical evacuations. The Navy also patrols the surrounding waters. There is no clarity on whether the Maldives will replace Indian military personnel with civilians to fly the helicopters and planes.

“Both sides have also agreed on a set of mutually workable solutions to enable the continued operation of Indian aviation platforms providing humanitarian and medical evacuation services to the people of the Maldives,” India’s Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement on Friday declaration.

India and China have alternately competed for influence in the tourism-dependent country, which sits on a busy shipping route in the Indian Ocean.

Beijing upgraded its diplomatic ties with the Maldives to a “comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership” during Muizzu’s five-day visit to China in January. President Xi Jinping said China will try to boost direct flights to the island and increase cooperation in trade, investment, agriculture and other matters.

First print: February 3, 2024 | 4:51 PM IST