Maldives issues formal withdrawal notice to Indian troops, denies inviting Chinese

• Request made during Indian Minister Kiren Rijiju’s visit to Maldives.
• There is no timetable, number of troops mentioned in the official statement.
• President Muizzu calls for the removal of all foreign troops from the Maldives.

Fulfilling a promise made when he took office, President Mohamed Mooju of the Maldives formally called on India on Saturday to withdraw its troops from the strategically located archipelago, plunging New Delhi into valid concerns that Chinese forces may not cover the gap, Indian media reported.

During a meeting with visiting Indian Earth Sciences Minister Kiren Rijiju, Muizzu made the request, specifically urging the recall of personnel assigned to operate three aircraft patrolling the maritime territory.

In a brief statement, Muizzu’s office confirmed: “The President formally made the request when he met India’s Minister of Earth Sciences, Kiren Rijiju, at the Office of the President earlier today.”

While the statement did not provide a timetable or specify the number of personnel to be withdrawn, Muizzu had made the removal of foreign troops a priority during his inauguration the day before.

He stated, “the country will not have foreign military personnel in the Maldives,” stressing a commitment to respect other countries’ security red lines.

Muizzu clarified earlier in the week, speaking to AFP, that his intention was not to upset the regional balance by replacing the Indian military presence with Chinese troops.

Despite underlining strong ties with China, a key economic backer of the Maldives, Muizzu assured that the move was not aimed at upsetting the geopolitical balance.

Elected in September as the eighth president of the Maldives since it gained independence from Britain in 1965, Muizzu took over as a proxy for a pro-China predecessor who was jailed on corruption charges.

Known for its pristine beaches and luxury resorts, the Maldives has evolved into a geopolitical hotspot due to its strategic location along the global East-West shipping lanes.

At the opening ceremony of Muizzu, China was represented by State Councilor Shen Yiqin, a special envoy of President Xi Jinping, emphasizing China’s continued interest in the region.