Indian soldiers operating the aviation platforms have been replaced by civilian employees of the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), said Maldives' foreign minister Moosa Zameer. India-Maldives ties deteriorated after President Mohamed Muizzu demanded the expulsion of Indian troops.
Relations between India and the Maldives soured after three Maldivian deputy ministers made derogatory remarks towards PM Modi, leading to a tourism boycott of the country. The bilateral relations were already in hot waters due to President Mohamed Muizzu's pro-China policies.
In his opening remarks, Jaishankar extended a "very very warm welcome" to Zameer on his first visit to the country in his current capacity, which the EAM said provides an opportunity to discuss bilateral ties and chart out future directions.
The number of Indian tourists in the Maldives has sharply declined in 2024, taking it from the topmost to the sixth position after January following a decrease of 42 per cent in arrivals. This decline has been attributed to President Mohamed Muizzu's pro-China foreign policy.
Mohamed Muizzu, widely seen as a pro-China leader, pushed for ousting Indian military personnel from his country after assuming charge as the president of the island nation.
The development comes weeks after India allowed the export of certain quantities of essential commodities at the request of the Maldivian government and days before Male set a deadline to withdraw Indian troops from the island nation.
Muizzu's party won 66 of 93 seats in the parliament in Sunday's election and with the entry of the independent candidates, the People's National Congress-led coalition now has a "supermajority" with 78 seats. The elections were closely watched by India and China amid geopolitical tensions.
Maldives voters handed President Mohamed Muizzu's party a landslide win at parliamentary elections, an outcome set to shift the Indian Ocean archipelago closer to China and away from traditional partner India.
According to preliminary results, PNC secured over 60 constituencies accounting for almost two-thirds of the parliament.
According to local media reports, a total of 368 candidates, including candidates from Muizzu's Peoples National Congress (PNC), contesting the elections. Besides, 130 of these candidates are contesting as independents.
President Muizzu responded to corruption allegations declaring that the opposition “cannot show any wrongdoing on his part regardless of how far attempts to implicate him are taken”.
Muizzu announced the withdrawal of the second Indian military contingent from the Maldives while speaking during a campaign event in Addu city for the ruling People's National Congress party candidates ahead of the parliamentary elections scheduled for April 21.
PM Modi's greetings to Muizzu comes as the two countries are experiencing strained ties over the latter's decision to expel Indian military personnel from the archipelago nation. Several Muslim countries are celebrating Eid-ul-Fitr on Wednesday, marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan.
The latest development came ahead of the Parliamentary elections wherein Mariyam Shiuna "deliberately" replaced MDP's poll campaign poster with the Ashok Chakra. However, she later apologised.
The first batch of around 25 Indian personnel manning a helicopter departed from the island nation ahead of the March 10 deadline. India agreed to replace its military personnel operating the three aviation platforms in the Maldives by May 10 after a high-level meeting in February.
A Maldivian Foreign Ministry official, who spoke to Mihaaru News on the condition of anonymity, said India and Male had signed an agreement in February this year but added the details of the same could not be made public.
Solih said he had seen media reports that suggest Maldives President Muizzu wants to talk to India for debt restructuring. However, the financial challenges are not caused by Indian loans.
he pro-China Maldivian leader's remarks came days after the first batch of Indian military personnel operating a helicopter gifted by India left the island nation after Muizzu stepped up his anti-India rhetoric.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said he was not aware of the specifics but added Beijing supports Maldives in safeguarding its sovereignty and working with other countries on the basis of equality".
Maldives' pro-China President Mohamed Muizzu came to power on an election campaign demanding the withdrawal of Indian troops from the island nation. India has agreed to replace its military personnel operating the three aviation platforms in the Maldives by May 10.
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