Maldives to End Reliance on Indian Air Ambulances from March 2024
Photo: MNDF
President Mohamed Muizzu announced that, starting from March 1, Maldives will discontinue the use of Indian helicopters and Dornier aircraft for medical emergencies.
Speaking at Velana International Airport yesterday, upon his return from a state visit to China, he revealed plans for a new air ambulance service, utilising the Maldivian Dash 8 aircraft.
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Simultaneously, the Maldivian government has formally requested the Indian government to provide a withdrawal date for its troops stationed in Male by March. Current figures indicate the presence of 88 Indian military personnel in Maldives.
Muizzu, who won the presidential election in September, had campaigned on the promise to remove Indian military presence from the Maldives.
The government officially requested India to withdraw its troops after assuming power on November 17, with Muizzu asserting that India had agreed to the withdrawal.
