Pro-China Maldives Prez-Elect Aims to Diplomatically Address Indian Troop Presence from ‘Day One’ – News18

Maldives President-elect Mohamed Muizzu is keeping up with his campaign promise to address the presence of Indian military personnel in the archipelago. Muizzu, set to assume the presidency next month, aims to see the Indian troops leave during the first week of his term.

Viewed as a leader with pro-China inclinations, Muizzu in a recent interview told Al Jazeera his intention to request the removal of Indian troops from the Maldives on “day one” of his presidency. In his recent electoral victory, he defeated the incumbent Ibrahim Solih. Shortly after his win, he told his supporters at a public celebration that he wouldn’t stand for a foreign military staying in the Maldives against the will of its citizens.

In response to his pledge to withdraw Indian troops, Muizzu said that he had met with the Indian high commissioner during the transitional period and discussed this as a paramount issue. “I have actually met with the Indian high commissioner few days ago during the transition period and during that meeting itself, I had mentioned that we need this to be our topmost priority. They have positively noted that and have said that they will work together with us to find a way forward on this,” Muizzu told the Doha-based news network.

He said the Indian authorities acknowledged the concern and expressed their commitment to collaborate in finding a resolution. “We have historically been a peaceful nation for centuries, devoid of foreign military presence on our soil. We maintain a limited military infrastructure and feel insecure with foreign troops stationed here,” he said.

When questioned about his foreign policy’s potential alignment with China, Muizzu asserted that he would prioritise a pro-Maldives approach. He clarified that his administration would not lean toward any specific country to appease them, emphasising the primary objective of securing the Maldives’ interests. He stressed that any nation respecting this approach would be considered a valued ally.

The Maldives is made up of 1,200 coral islands in the Indian Ocean, located by the main shipping route between the East and the West. When asked about India-led military projects and cooperation with the Maldives, he said, “Military cooperation has always been with different countries and it should be there. Military cooperation is needed and it’s important. ”

Muiz’s main campaign theme was about an alleged threat to the Maldives’ sovereignty by some foreign personnel on an island, part of the party’s yearslong “India out” strategy. However, Solih insisted that the Indian military’s presence in the Maldives was only to build a dockyard under an agreement between the two governments and that his country’s sovereignty won’t be violated.