Maldives Sets March 15 Deadline for Indian Troop Withdrawal: Reports

Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu has set a deadline for India to withdraw its troops from the country, stating that Indian military personnel should leave by March 15, reported NDTV.

This comes after Muizzu’s recent state visit to China, where ties were upgraded. The diplomatic tension between India and Maldives escalated when Maldivian ministers made disrespectful remarks about Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi after his visit to Lakshadweep islands. Three ministers were dismissed, but the Maldivian President emphasized, “We may be small but no one has the license to bully us.”

Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim from the President’s Office declared that Indian military personnel cannot stay in the Maldives, aligning with President Muizzu’s policy. Reports suggest that around 88 Indian troops are currently present in the Maldives. The President’s call for withdrawal comes almost two months after he initially urged the removal of Indian troops, a key promise during his election campaign under the “India Out” slogan.

Maldives and India have formed a core group to negotiate the troop withdrawal, with the first meeting taking place at the Foreign Ministry Headquarters in Male’. The agenda for the meeting focused on the request to withdraw troops by March 15. While the Indian government has not yet confirmed or commented on the deadline, earlier discussions between Union Minister Kiren Rijiju and the Maldivian President aimed for a “workable solution” to continue the use of Indian military platforms by the Maldives.

Despite its small size, the Maldives holds significance in regional politics due to strategic maritime passages. Indian assistance, including radars, surveillance aircraft, and warships, has contributed to public welfare, humanitarian aid, disaster relief, and combating illegal maritime activities in the Maldives.

The shift from the previous “India First” policy under Ibrahim Solih to the current “India Out” stance is not sudden,