The President of the Maldives, Mohamed Muizzu, announced that India has agreed to withdraw its army from the Indian Ocean archipelago nation. During a press conference in Male, President Muizzu stated that the Indian government has agreed to remove Indian soldiers. He further said that a high-level committee will also be set up to solve issues related to development projects.
#MohamedMuizzu #Maldives #India #China #MaldivesPresident #MohamedFiruzulAbdulKhaleel #IbrahimMohamedSolih
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#MohamedMuizzu #Maldives #India #China #MaldivesPresident #MohamedFiruzulAbdulKhaleel #IbrahimMohamedSolih
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00:00 The president of the Maldives, Mohamed Mouizou, announced that India has agreed to withdraw
00:07 its army from the Indian Ocean Archipelago nation.
00:11 During a press conference in Mali, President Mouizou stated that the Indian government
00:16 has agreed to remove Indian soldiers.
00:19 He further said that a high-level committee will also be set up to solve issues related
00:24 to development projects.
00:26 However, conflicting reports emerged as sources from the Indian central government clarified
00:32 that discussions regarding the troop withdrawal are still ongoing.
00:36 The issue was reportedly briefly discussed during a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra
00:40 Modi and President Mouizou on the sidelines of the COP28 climate summit in Dubai.
00:46 Government sources in India emphasized that the continued usefulness of Indian platforms
00:52 engaged in high-availability disaster recovery or HADR activities in the Maldives needs to
00:58 be evaluated from a proper perspective.
01:01 They also pointed out that the Maldivian side has acknowledged the utility of these platforms
01:07 and discussions on how to keep them operational are still in progress.
01:13 President Mouizou, who was recently elected, formally requested India on November 18 to
01:19 withdraw its military presence from the country.
01:22 He has consistently expressed his commitment to ensuring that the Maldives remains free
01:27 of any foreign military presence to preserve its independence and sovereignty.
01:35 The removal of Indian troops was a prominent campaign promise of Mouizou's party, which
01:40 recently ousted President Ibrahim Soli.
01:43 Approximately 70 Indian troops, along with aircraft and helicopters, are currently stationed
01:48 in the Maldives.
01:49 The 45-year-old leader won the election in September of 2023 and prioritized campaigning
01:56 against India's political and economic influence in the Maldives.
01:59 While he clarified that the request to remove military personnel is not aimed at bringing
02:05 in troops from other countries, diplomatic experts suggest that the growing ties between
02:10 Mouizou's party and China would have significant implications.
02:15 China has increasingly invested in the Maldives in recent years, leasing islands and reportedly
02:20 stationing ships for military operations.
02:23 There are also talks of a free trade agreement between China and the Maldives.
02:28 If the Maldives, under its current pro-China government, accepts these overtures, it could
02:34 strain relations with India.
02:37 Diplomatic experts warn that China might exert pressure on the Maldives, potentially damaging
02:42 its relations with India.
02:44 A situation reminiscent of events in Sri Lanka and Nepal.
02:48 The Maldives, known for its stunning landscapes and tourism, comprises about 1,200 islands,
02:54 with only around 100 being inhabited.
02:56 "
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