Maldives President-elect Muizzu wants Indian troops out: 'Won't mean I'll allow China...'
President-elect Mohamed Muizzu announced in an interview with Bloomberg News on Friday that the Maldives has initiated negotiations with India to withdraw its military presence. Muizzu, who recently ousted President Ibrahim Solih, made the removal of Indian troops a central promise during his campaign. Currently, approximately 70 Indian military personnel operate radar stations and surveillance aircraft sponsored by New Delhi, while Indian warships assist in patrolling the Maldives' exclusive economic zone.
According to Muizzu, negotiations with the Indian government have already begun and are proving to be "very successful." He emphasized the desire for a mutually beneficial bilateral relationship and clarified that Indian soldiers would not be replaced by troops from other nations. He stressed that requesting India to withdraw its military personnel does not mean that he intends to permit China or any other country to station its troops in the Maldives.
Muizzu's victory further intensifies the competition between China and India for influence in the Indian Ocean. Historically, Maldivian governments have leaned towards either India or China, with both countries investing significantly in upgrading the Maldives' infrastructure and providing loans as they vie for regional dominance.
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