Indian soldiers will have to withdraw from the country

• Maldives’s pro-China leader Mohamed Muizzu, announced as their new President

• As of now, Chinese troops will not be allowed to replace the Indian troops

Malé (Maldives) – The Maldives is set to get a president who has vowed to cultivate “strong ties” with China and to expel Indian troops deployed in the strategically placed Indian Ocean archipelago.

Maldives’ new President-elect Mohamed Moijju has reiterated that Indian soldiers will have to leave the country once he takes office. However, Muizzu said that his intention was not to upend the regional balance by replacing them with Chinese troops. Moijju has also dismissed reports that he is close to China.

President Moijju said, “We are going to work together with all the countries, India, China and all other countries as well.” With regards to the competition for the Indian Ocean Archipelago, the president-elect said that the Maldives is too small to be entangled in geopolitical rivalry, I am not very much interested in engaging the Maldivian foreign policy in this.” Muizzu said he hoped to begin negotiations with New Delhi on the withdrawal of an estimated 50 to 75 Indian military personnel deployed to operate three aircraft gifted to the Maldives to patrol its vast maritime territory.

Maldives circled above

Maldives highlighted above

Both India and China are keeping an eye on the Maldives. The Maldives is of strategic importance when monitoring a large part of the Indian Ocean. Ibrahim Saleh, who took over the Maldives in 2018, gave special importance to improving relations with India after becoming President. But new President Moijju has described Ibrahim Saleh’s ‘India First’ policy as a threat to the Maldives. Moijju is said to be pro-Chinese.