Maldives’ recently elected President, Mohamed Muizzu, is urging India to withdraw its military presence from the Indian Ocean archipelago, signaling a shift from the previous “India first” policy. Muizzu, who secured victory in September’s presidential election, is fulfilling his campaign promise to reduce the small Indian military contingent of approximately 75 personnel.
This move is seen in the context of the ongoing geopolitical competition between India and China for influence in the region, with Muizzu’s administration perceived as leaning toward China.
The president’s office released a statement emphasizing that Muizzu’s request reflects the democratic will of the Maldivian people. India’s defence ministry has yet to respond to the call for withdrawal.
During his inauguration on Friday, Muizzu affirmed his commitment to ensuring that the Maldives remains free of any foreign military presence. The formal request to withdraw the military was made to Kiren Rijiju, India’s minister for earth sciences, who represented India at the inauguration. While the senior Indian government official noted an agreement for both governments to discuss workable solutions for continued cooperation, it remains unclear whether India will comply with the request to withdraw its military forces.
