Removing Indian military presence from Maldives will be the first order of business for Maldivian President-elect Mohamed Muizzu.

Muizzu made this clear in his victory speech on Monday night, stating that the people have decided they do not want Indian troops in the country.

Atoll Times quoted Muizzu as saying: “Those who have deployed (Indian) troops here would not want to keep them here if we don’t want it. The people have decided and don’t want Indian troops to stay in the Maldives. Therefore, foreign soldiers cannot be here against our sentiments, against our will.’’

This was the first time the pro-China President-elect addressed the people after emerging victorious in the elections this weekend. He added: “So, I have to tell the ambassador who is going to meet me that we will have a very good relationship with these values.”

India maintains a military presence in Maldives to operate the Dornier aircraft and two helicopters gifted to Male in 2020 and 2013, respectively. In November 2021, the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) had informed the parliamentary committee on security services that 75 Indian military personnel were stationed in Maldives to operate the aircraft and choppers.

The MNDF had been summoned by the panel in connection with the UTF agreement with the Indian military to develop a dockyard and port in Uthuru Thilafalhu. With the UTF agreement extending diplomatic immunity to Indian military personnel stationed in Maldives, the Opposition began raising concerns about Maldivian sovereignty being eroded by India, helping the India Out campaign gain currency.

Given how the helicopters have remained in Maldives despite repeated requests from the Yameen government that preceded the outgoing Solih dispensation to withdraw them, it remains to be seen whether Muizzu will be able to follow through.

Evidently conscious of his pro-China reputation, the President-elect sought to set at rest speculations by saying that his foreign policy would be a “pro-Maldives” one and countries which respect that would be closest to Male. “Hopefully, I believe that
all countries in the world will want to respect our own identity (and) recognise that we have the right to protect our freedoms as they do theirs.”