In the midst of a diplomatic rift, India has fully withdrawn its troops from the Maldives, according to an official statement from the island nation’s government. Indian forces departed Maldivian territory before the May 10 deadline set by President Mohamed Muizzu. The troop withdrawal was a key campaign promise of Muizzu, perceived as a pro-China leader.
President Muizzu’s government announced the presence of 89 Indian soldiers in the Maldives based on official documents. However, the exact number of troops withdrawn was not immediately disclosed. Heena Waleed, chief spokesperson for the president’s office, confirmed that all Indian soldiers had been repatriated.
India agreed to withdraw its troops by the deadline to avoid further conflicts. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated at a media briefing that the first and second batches of Indian personnel had returned to India. Additionally, competent Indian technical personnel have been assigned to operate three Indian aviation platforms.
This development follows a meeting between India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and his Maldivian counterpart, Moosa Zameer. The ministers discussed bilateral ties and regional security issues, including the possibility of President Muizzu visiting New Delhi soon.
The Maldives is a crucial maritime neighbor for India in the Indian Ocean Region and plays a significant role in initiatives like SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) and the Neighbourhood First Policy of the Modi government.
