"Maldives and India Agree on Phased Withdrawal of Indian Troops; President Muizzu Emphasizes Sovereignty

 

Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu announced on Monday that a bilateral agreement has been reached between India and the Maldives for the repatriation of the initial contingent of Indian troops stationed in the Maldives before March 10, 2024. Speaking during the inaugural address at the final session of the 19th Parliament, President Muizzu highlighted the ongoing discussions with India regarding the withdrawal of troops and stated that the Indian Army will relocate its military personnel from one of the three aviation platforms in the Maldives by March 10. He further noted that the military personnel from the remaining two platforms will leave by May 10.

President Muizzu reiterated his commitment to safeguarding the freedom and sovereignty of the Maldivian people, citing widespread support for his government's agenda, including the withdrawal of foreign troops, recovery of lost parts of Maldives seas, and the cancellation of agreements that could undermine Maldives sovereignty.

During his address, Muizzu announced plans to enhance the Maldives military's capability to maintain the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) 24 hours a day.

In a related development, the inaugural session of the People's Majlis saw a notable absence of 56 Members of Parliament (MPs), with the opposition, comprising the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and the Democrats, choosing to boycott the session due to concerns about the perceived undemocratic practices of the government.

The withdrawal of Indian troops from the Maldives was a central focus of Muizzu's party's campaign. Presently, approximately 70 Indian troops, along with a Dornier 228 maritime patrol aircraft and two HAL Dhruv helicopters, are stationed in the Maldives.

President Muizzu had formally requested the Indian government to withdraw its military personnel on the second day of his presidency. The recent second meeting of the high-level core group between the two nations in New Delhi concluded with an agreement that the Indian military personnel in one of the three aviation platforms would be replaced by March 10, 2024, and the replacement in the other two platforms would be completed by May 10, 2024.

Both sides conducted a thorough review of existing bilateral cooperation during the meeting, focusing on defense and security cooperation, economic collaboration, and development partnership. The Maldives reported that the third meeting of the high-level core group is scheduled to take place in Male during the last week of February, with a mutual commitment to finding practical solutions for the ongoing operation of Indian aviation platforms that provide humanitarian and medevac services to the Maldivian people."