Indian troops manning 2nd aviation platform to leave by April end: Maldives President Muizzu

Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu

Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu said that Indian troops manning the second aviation platform would leave by the end of April, according to a local media report. He reiterated that the entire process would be over by May 10, 2024.

Muizzu's statement comes weeks after the first batch of over 20 Indian military personnel departed from the island nation. They were manning a helicopter gifted by India. The operations of the chopper were handed over to an Indian civilian crew as agreed ahead of the March 10 deadline by both India and Maldives.

According to state-owned Public Service Media, Muizzu made the statement during a public meeting. He also reiterated his commitment to preserving Maldives' independence, emphasizing that his government is dedicated to fulfilling this promise.

Muizzu, who is seen as a pro-China leader, elaborated that in line with agreements reached between parties, the withdrawal process of Indian military personnel is already under way. He said that the troops stationed on the second platform will be withdrawn within the current month, while those on the third platform will be withdrawn by May 10, psmnews.mv reported.

India agreed to replace its military personnel operating the three aviation platforms in the Maldives by May 10 after a high-level meeting was held between the two nations in New Delhi on February 2. Two helicopters and a Dornier aircraft which were providing humanitarian and medical evacuation services in Maldives were being operated by 88 Indian military personnel.

Escalating his anti-India stance last month, Muizzu had declared that no Indian military personnel, not even those in civilian clothing, would be present in his country after May 10.

"There will be no Indian troops in the country come May 10. Not in uniform and not in civilian clothing. The Indian military will not be residing in this country in any form of clothing. I state this with confidence," he said on a day when Maldives signed an agreement with China to receive free military aid.

Within hours of taking oath in November 2023, Muizzu had demanded India to remove its personnel from the strategically located island nation in the Indian Ocean.

The Maldives President travelled to Beijing in January and met China's top leadership to cement the Male-Beijing relationship. The Muizzu government has also signed a defence agreement with the Chinese military under which the People's Liberation Army (PLA) will assist the Maldivian security and defence forces.