In a notable move, the Maldives has demanded that India withdraw all military forces from the Maldivian territory by March 15th. This action was taken under the new government led by President Mohamed Muizzu who assumed office in November 2023.
During his Presidential campaign, Muizzu often used the slogan “IndiaOut”, which was a clear call for Indian troops to leave the Maldivian territory. The new Public Policy Secretary at the President’s Office, Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim, formally disclosed this demand during a recent press briefing.
This development coincided with the first bilateral meeting of a high-level core group between both nations. The Maldivian foreign affairs ministry released a statement where it expressed the intent to intensify cooperation. The statement also mentioned a mutual agreement on the withdrawal of Indian military personnel. Howevever, the respective Indian statement made no mention of any withdrawal.
The bilateral relations between both nations have recently been mired by numerous incidents, including a social media row that erupted following a comparison between the Maldives and India’s Lakshadweep islands by an online Indian user. In response to the derogatory comments floated on social media platforms, the Maldivian government issued a formal statement, emphasizing that those individual comments did not reflect the sentiment of the Maldivian Government. The government also ensured action against such derogatory remarks against foreign dignitaries.
After these incidents, the Maldivian President, Muizzu, led a delegation on a diplomatic visit to China. This move is said to have triggered changes in the island nation’s stance towards India.
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