All posts tagged: India Maldives relations

India To Replace Military Personnel In Maldives With Technical People

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Curated By: Saurabh Verma Last Updated: February 08, 2024, 19:53 IST Jaiswal said India remained a committed development partner of the Maldives.(Image: ANI file) Following the second meeting of the high-level core group to address the issue of the military personnel, the Maldivian foreign ministry said India will replace its military personnel in two phases by May 10 India will replace its military personnel operating three aviation platforms in the Maldives with “competent Indian technical personnel” amid strained ties between the two countries following the victory of  Mohamed Muizzu who is widely seen as a pro-China leader. “I would like to say that the present personnel will be replaced by competent Indian technical personnel,” External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at his weekly media briefing. Jaiswal said India remained a committed development partner of the Maldives. “We remain an important committed development partner for the Maldives,” he said. Following the second meeting of the high-level core group to address the issue of the military personnel, the Maldivian foreign ministry said India will replace its …

Doing diplomacy with patience in Maldives

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India-Maldives relations were expected to face renewed strains when Mohamed Muizzu, the leader of the Opposition People’s National Congress, won the November 2023 presidential election on an “India-Out” populist plank. After taking office, he has asked India to withdraw its contingent of 75 defence personnel who operate the Dornier aircraft and helicopters gifted by the country for surveillance of Maldives’ large exclusive economic zone (EEZ), disaster relief operations across more than a thousand islands in the Maldives spread over a vast ocean space, and to promote maritime security under the Colombo Security Conclave of which the Maldives is a founder member. The new government has also declined to renew an agreement under which India was assisting in carrying out a hydrographic survey of the country’s EEZ. There has so far not been any official reaction from the Indian side. Muizzu maintains that India has acceded to his requests. PREMIUM Chinese President Xi Jinping with Maldives’ President Mohamed Muizzu, in Beijing,(PTI) Muizzu embarked on an official four-day visit to China on January 8 this year. On …

Why New Delhi cold shouldered Maldives plan for Prez Muizzu’s India visit | Latest News India

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NEW DELHI: The Maldives government proposed a visit to India by President Mohamed Muizzu after he assumed office last year but the trip couldn’t go ahead for a variety of factors, including strained bilateral relations, people familiar with the matter said on Tuesday. President Muizzu reiterated his demand for the withdrawal of some 77 Indian military personnel at his meeting with Union minister Kiren Rijiju, who represented the Indian government at his inauguration (AFP FILE PHOTO) Ties between India and the Maldives, earlier one of the main beneficiaries of New Delhi’s “Neighbourhood First” policy, took a further hit last week after several leaders close to the government in Male made derogatory remarks about India and its leadership last week. Muizzu’s government suspended three deputy ministers over the comments. Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here The people said on condition of anonymity that the Maldives government had broached the proposal for a presidential visit shortly after Muizzu assumed office last November. However, the atmosphere at the time …