President Mohamed Muizzu of the Maldives announced on Sunday that India’s government has agreed to withdraw its soldiers from the Indian Ocean archipelago. Muizzu, who won the September presidential election, campaigned on altering the Maldives’s “India first” policy and pledged to remove the small Indian military presence of approximately 75 personnel. Following discussions at the COP28 climate summit, Muizzu stated that India had agreed to the withdrawal and the establishment of a high-level committee to address development project issues.
The move comes amid regional competition between India and China for influence, with Muizzu’s coalition perceived to lean more towards China. Most of the Indian military personnel in the Maldives were involved in operating two helicopters and a Dornier aircraft provided by India. India has played a role in supporting the Maldives with military equipment, disaster response assistance, and the construction of a naval dockyard.
Muizzu, who emphasized a foreign policy without foreign military presence during his inauguration, had formally requested Indian troop withdrawal from Kiren Rijiju, India’s minister for earth sciences, representing India at the event.
BBW News Desk is the editorial team of BigBreakingWire, a digital newsroom focused on global finance, markets, geopolitics, trade policy, and macroeconomic developments.
Our editors monitor government decisions, central bank actions, international trade movements, corporate activity, and economic indicators to deliver fast, fact-based reporting for investors, professionals, and informed readers.
The BBW News Desk operates under the editorial standards of BigBreakingWire, prioritizing accuracy, verified information, and timely updates on major global developments.
One Comment