Mohamed Muizzu, having assumed the presidency of the Maldives less than 24 hours prior, formally called upon the Government of India on Saturday to withdraw its military personnel from his country. Muizzu justified this request by citing the “strong mandate” bestowed upon him by the Maldivian people. The plea was made during a courtesy visit by India’s Union Minister Kiren Rejiju to the new president’s office, according to a press release from the Maldivian President’s Office.
The exact number of Indian military personnel stationed in the Maldives remains undisclosed. Muizzu, a 45-year-old engineer-turned-politician, was sworn in on Friday as the eighth president of the strategically positioned archipelago in the Indian Ocean. The significance of India’s ‘Neighbourhood First Policy’ was underscored as Union Minister Rijiju represented the country at Muizzu’s inauguration ceremony. It was during this meeting that President Muizzu officially urged the Government of India to withdraw its military presence from the Maldives. The developments highlight the diplomatic dynamics between the two nations in the region.
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