President Mohamed Muizzu, recognized for his pro-China stance, fulfilled a key electoral pledge with the withdrawal of Indian troops from the Maldives.
In a Monday address to the Maldives Parliament, President Mohamed Muizzu confirmed the initial departure of Indian troops before March 10, underscoring his commitment to safeguarding the freedom and sovereignty of the Maldivian people, as pledged during his pre-election campaign.
Muizzu further declared that the remaining two contingents of Indian forces would conclude their withdrawal from the island nation by May 10.
Mohamed Muizzu, recognized for his pro-China stance and as a key election promise, is delivering on the withdrawal commitment of Indian troops from the Maldives, positioning himself against New Delhi’s economic and strategic interests. In his presidential address, Muizzu emphasized his rise to power on the promise to withdraw foreign troops, reclaim lost parts of Maldives seas, and annul agreements threatening sovereignty. Additionally, he revealed plans to bolster the Maldives military to safeguard the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) continuously, as reported by Sun Online.
He emphasized that his administration operates based on prioritizing the welfare and interests of the people of the Maldives.
A total of 56 MPs, including 13 from the Democrats and 44 from the MDP, opted to boycott his speech in protest against what they deemed as the “undemocratic practices of the government.”
The two parties had recently accused him of adopting what they labeled as an anti-India stance.
Following a meeting with New Delhi last week, the Maldives foreign ministry announced an agreement that India would replace military personnel in one of the three aviation platforms by March 10, 2024.
India had long been the Maldives’ closest ally until Muizzu came into power.
Tensions escalated last month between India and the Maldives when a minister from the latter made derogatory remarks about Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding his trip to Lakshadweep.
India officially registered a formal protest with the Maldives government. Numerous celebrities took to X, urging the public to refrain from visiting the country, which heavily relies on tourism for its economy.
In just three weeks following the boycott appeals, India swiftly emerged as the fifth-largest market for the Maldives, a significant shift.
During a visit to China last month, Muizzu sought increased tourist inflow from the communist nation, a move perceived as a response to India’s calls for a boycott.
