India Started Withdrawing Military Troops From Maldives: Report
India started to withdraw military troops from Maldives following the order from Muhammed Muizzu. According to Maldivian news paper Mihaaru, over 25 Indian troops already left the archipelago. Military personnel operating surveillance aircraft in the Islands started withdrawing and civilian staffs are replacing them in operating the surveillance.
After discussions with India, both countries reached an agreement to complete the withdrawal of Indian troops and their support staff from Island nation by May 10. As part of the withdrawal process, three Indian aircrafts, including two helicopters and one fixed-wing plane will be operated by Indian civilian staff, who have already arrived.
During the high-level meeting, India agreed to withdraw its military on the condition that a number of its civilian equivalent will be brought to operate the aircraft. Muizzu, who is known for his pro-China stance, stepped-up his anti-India rhetoric by setting the deadline of withdrawal of Indian military on May 10.
The announcement came in less than a week after the Indian civilian team reached the archipelago, to take charge of the one of the three aviation platforms in the nation. As per media report, over 89 Indian military personnel will withdraw from Maldives by May 10.
Lats week China signed a defense cooperation agreement with the Maldives, offering free military aid to strengthen bilateral ties. The Chinese gesture comes amidst strategic maneuvers in the region, including the recent docking of the high-tech Chinese research ship Xiang Yang Hong 03 for a port call in the Maldives. This move follows Sri Lanka’s declaration on January 5 of a one-year ban on foreign research ships entering its waters, prompted by concerns raised by India over Chinese vessels gathering data in the Indian Ocean Region for military purposes.
Since President Muizzu came to power in November, the relationship between India and the Maldives has been strained. As China expands its footprint in the Maldives, concerns raise in India, as the island nation is a pivotal player in the geopolitical landscape of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
