India Accelerates Withdrawal of Military Personnel in Response to Muizzu’s Request

India has committed to expediting the withdrawal of its military personnel from the Maldives, addressing a key aspect of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s electoral promises. 

Muizzu, who assumed office on November 17 last year, emphasised the removal of foreign military forces, particularly Indian troops, as a crucial agenda during his campaign.

In alignment with the president’s goals for the initial 100 days in office, Muizzu officially relayed the withdrawal request to the Indian government. As of the latest count, there are 77 Indian military personnel stationed in the Maldives.

Yesterday, technical committees from both nations engaged in high-level discussions concerning the withdrawal process. The Maldivian government has set a deadline of March 15, 2024, for the complete removal of Indian military personnel from its territory.

A concise statement from the Maldives Foreign Ministry, issued following the core group meeting, highlighted that the discussions encompassed a comprehensive review of existing bilateral cooperation. This included areas of mutual interest such as development cooperation.

The statement conveyed that both sides affirmed their commitment to enhancing cooperation and concurred on expediting the withdrawal of Indian military personnel. Additional meetings of the committee are scheduled to be convened at mutually convenient times for both nations.