We don’t want soldiers from other countries in the Maldives. I promised this to our people, and I’ll keep my word right from the start.
The new Maldivian President, Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, won the election recently and is already asking India to take its soldiers out of the country. He had a meeting with the Indian ambassador shortly after his victory and was very clear that he wants all Indian military personnel to leave.
For a long time, the Maldives has been closely connected to India, but Muizzu’s request might cause disagreements between Malé and Delhi. This situation is a setback for India because Muizzu’s opponent, the previous president Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, had strengthened ties with India since he took office in 2018.
Muizzu’s group believes that the strong connection with India, pushed by Solih’s pro-India policy, could be a danger to Maldives’ independence and safety. They prefer getting closer to China, which has invested a lot of money in the Maldives for various projects.
India also wants to have a presence in the Maldives because of its important location in the Indian Ocean. They’ve provided about $2 billion in aid to the country. If their soldiers have to leave, it will be a setback for Delhi.
A big controversy arose over the gifts India gave the Maldives, including two helicopters in 2010 and 2013, and a small aircraft in 2020. India said they were meant for rescue missions and medical evacuations.
However, in 2021, the Maldivian defense force revealed that around 75 Indian military personnel were in the country to operate and maintain these aircraft. This made many people suspicious and upset, thinking that India was using these planes as an excuse to have their soldiers in the Maldives.
President Muizzu believes that having these troops could put the Maldives in danger, especially as tensions between India and China rise along their border. He thinks the Maldives is too small to get involved in this big global struggle and wants to avoid it.
Before leaving office, President Solih assured that there were no actively engaged foreign military personnel stationed in the Maldives. He said the Indian personnel in the country were following the commands of the Maldivian National Defense Force.
Muizzu also mentioned that he wants to review all the agreements the Maldives has made with India recently.
“We’re not sure what’s in those agreements. Even in Parliament, some MPs admitted they didn’t know. We’ll find out,” he said.
Right after winning, people noticed that the Chinese ambassador in Malé congratulated Mr. Muizzu swiftly. Chinese President Xi Jinping also expressed his eagerness to strengthen relations and cooperate with President-elect Muizzu.
Muizzu praised Chinese projects in the Maldives, saying they improved Malé and helped its residents.
However, he insists he’s not “pro-China” like Mr. Solih was seen as “pro-India.” He emphasized that he’s focused on what’s best for the Maldives and its independence.
It’s worth noting that his opposition alliance includes the party of former president Abdulla Yameen, who played a key role in getting closer to China. When India and Western lenders were hesitant due to human rights concerns, Yameen, who is currently in prison for corruption, turned to Beijing for unconditional financial support. He also joined President Xi’s Belt and Road Initiative, which aims to connect China with the rest of the world through various transportation links.
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People saw Mr. Muizzu as someone acting on behalf of Yameen, who couldn’t run in the election. Right after winning, Mr. Muizzu requested that Yameen, who is currently in a high-security prison, be moved to house arrest in the capital, Male.
However, because of Yameen’s complicated relationship with Delhi, it might be tough for Mr. Muizzu’s new coalition to manage ties with India.
Mr. Muizzu seems eager to step out of Yameen’s shadow and wants to set a new course for the country, both internally and in foreign affairs. With his clear win, he might not face much opposition internally, at least at the beginning.
He appears determined to shift the Maldives away from India’s influence, but persuading Delhi to withdraw its troops could be his first major challenge.
SOURCE:BBC