Mohamed Muizzu vows to remove Indian troops from Maldives within the first week of his presidency

The new President-elect of the Maldives, Mohamed Muizzu, has said that he is determined to fulfill his promise of removing Indian military personnel from the archipelago. However, he plans to do so through diplomatic channels. As per a TOI report, Muizzu, who will assume the presidency next month, expressed his hope of seeing the Indian troops leave during the first week of his term. Despite being viewed as a leader favorable to China, Muizzu emphasized in an interview with Al Jazeera that he intends to request India's cooperation in removing their troops on the very first day of his presidency, as this is one of his top priorities.

Muizzu defeated the incumbent, Ibrahim Solih, in the recent presidential run-off. Solih was perceived as being more inclined towards India. Muizzu stated that he had already met with the Indian High Commissioner during the transition period and had made it clear that the removal of Indian troops was of utmost importance. He mentioned that the Indian officials positively acknowledged his request and assured him of their collaboration in finding a way forward. However, Muizzu admitted that he was not aware of the exact number of Indian military personnel present in the Maldives.

"We have always been a peaceful country for centuries, without any foreign troops on our soil," Muizzu stated. "We do not possess a large military establishment, and the presence of foreign troops does not make us feel secure." When asked if his foreign policy would lean towards China, he asserted that his approach would be pro-Maldives. He emphasized that the country would not align with any particular nation to please them, but rather prioritize the security and interests of the Maldives. Muizzu added that any country respecting this stance would be considered a good friend.