Maldives’ new president says Indian troops need to leave Maldives

Maldives is aiming to be “fully independent” and will ask Indian troops stationed in the island nation to leave, according to the country’s President-elect Mohamed Muizzu.

This development reflects the ongoing contest for regional supremacy between India and China. It also marks a shift from the policy of outgoing President Ibrahim Solih, whose perceived inclination toward India drew criticism from Muizzu during a hotly contested election. 

Foreign Military Presence and Maldives Independence 

This decision by Muizzu serves as a departure from his predecessor’s policy, which he saw as compromising Maldivian independence. The presence of around 70 Indian military personnel responsible for maintaining radar stations and surveillance planes, as well as Indian warships assisting in monitoring the Maldives’ exclusive economic zone, fuels concerns for the nation’s independence. 

Muizzu, soon to take control of the Indian Ocean archipelago, expressed these concerns in a Bloomberg TV interview. He reiterated his stance toward foreign military presence being upsetting, irrespective of which country’s troops are involved. 

Bilateral Negotiations and Country Relations 

In response to this situation, Muizzu has already started talks with the Indian government regarding the removal of its military influence. He reported these discussions as being “very successful already”. Muizzu emphasized his aim for mutually beneficial bilateral relationships and insisted that the removal of Indian troops does not mean an open invitation for military invasion from other countries.

Historical Relations and Strategic Importance 

The election outcome highlights the power struggle between China and India, both keen to establish their dominance over this strategic Indian Ocean region. Historically, the Maldives have swayed between allying with either India or China, two Asian superpowers with substantial investments in the island nation through loans and infrastructure developments. 

Moreover, the United States and its allies like Japan and Australia are working to balance out Beijing’s growing influence by endorsing India as a strong ally in Asia, a strategy that Solih, the outgoing president, had effectively deployed to draw Maldives closer to India. 

Previously an engineer and the Mayor of Male, Muizzu intends to neutralize this leaning by removing Indian troops and addressing existing trade imbalances. Describing the Maldives as “too small to take sides in a geopolitical rivalry between bigger nations,” he emphasizes his intentions of close cooperation with all countries, refuting the idea that the recent elections were about ties with either China or India. 

India’s Response and Support of Maldives 

India has responded cautiously, expressing readiness to work with the new Maldivian administration. India’s Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi, demonstrated commitment to a broad spectrum of collaborations that benefit the Maldivian population. Pointing out the 500 medical evacuations India conducted in the past five years and the rescue of 523 Maldivians, Bagchi underscored India’s ongoing support for the country. That, along with a financial aid package of $1.4 billion given in 2018 to prop up the island nation’s economy and an additional $500 million for infrastructural development in 2020.

The Maldives, a group of 187 islands inhabited by just over half a million people, is a prime tourist destination and of crucial importance for Indian Ocean maritime trade. Its vulnerability to climate change and geopolitical influences has made its relations with larger nations an area of intense interest and speculation. 

“Maldives first. That’s, I think, something that can be easily understood,” said Muizzu, due to take office on 15th November. 

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