India-Maldives Relations: Today is an important day in the relations between Maldives and India, because Indian troops are to withdraw from Maldives from today i.e. 10th March. Maldives President Mohammed Muizzu has asked to bring back all 80 Indian soldiers to India by May. In this sequence, a contingent of Indian soldiers will return to India today.
According to BBC report, in recent days Muizzu had made it clear that not a single Indian soldier will remain in Maldives. Muizzu has said that Indian personnel will not stay in Maldives even in civil dress. In fact, in the recent meeting between Male and New Delhi, it was decided that in exchange of Indian soldiers, the technical team will be deployed in Maldives.
China will provide training to Maldivian soldiers
According to the report, after Muizzu became the President, the relations between India and Maldives are increasing sourly, because Muizzu is continuously making statements against India. The reason behind this is said to be that Muizzu is a Chan supporter. It is believed that China wants India’s interference in Maldives to end, hence Muizzju is taking such decisions. Now China has also taken up the responsibility of training Maldivian soldiers, whereas earlier India and America used to train Maldivian soldiers.
Maldives’ military agreement with China
Recently, a military agreement has also been signed between Maldives and China, in which China has promised to provide many types of military assistance free of cost. Maldives expert Azim Zahir said that ‘This is unprecedented, for the first time Maldives has signed a defense agreement with China, so that military cooperation can be provided. We knew that Muizzu would move closer to China in terms of investment. But no one expected that he would go to this extent.
Muijju broke tradition
In fact, India has donated many helicopters to Maldives in the past years, for the operation of which Indian soldiers are deployed in Maldives. Now these soldiers have to return. Till now the President of Maldives used to come to India first, but this tradition has also been broken by Muizzu. Muizzu has visited China and Turkey, but has not yet visited India. It is believed that China is taking advantage of the deteriorating relations between China and Maldives and is making inroads in Maldives.