Technical Personnel Will Replace Indian Troops In Maldives, Government Confirms (image-twitter/@Narendramodi)
The Ministry of External Affairs of India on Thursday announced that they would replace its military personnel with “competent Indian technical personnel”. The Muhamed Muizzu-led Maldives government has formally requested India to remove its troops from Male.
While responding to a question at a press briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in New Delhi on Thursday, “The present personnel will be replaced by competent Indian technical personnel”, reports Hindustan Times.
The two countries are now in discussion to withdraw more than 75 military personnel from the Indian Ocean archipelago following Maldives demand. In this regard, a high-level meeting was held in Delhi on February 2 and a third meeting will be held later this month.
After the second meeting, the Maldives Foreign Ministry in a statement said that India will replace its military personnel in one of the three aviation platforms in the Maldives by March 10 and will complete the replacement by May 10. Both countries have agreed on mutually workable solutions for operating the three aircraft. A third meeting of the high-level core group will be held “subsequently”, Jaiswal said.
Notably, it is said that the removal of Indian troops from Maldives is one of the main election strategies of Muzzi’s party. Currently, there are around 70 Indian troops, along with Dornier 228 maritime patrol aircraft and two HAL Dhruv helicopters, stationed in the Maldives, reports NDTV.
Muizzu who has been widely perceived to be closer to China has now sought to move Maldives away from dependence on India in crucial sectors such as food security and defense following his victory in the last election. However, Jaiswal said India is committed to its partnership with India.
“We remain an important, committed development partner for the Maldives,” he said.
Jaiswal further added that Rs 779 crore has been allocated for the Maldives as against Rs 600 crore as projected earlier and New Delhi continues to be a “committed development partner” for Male.
