Maldives’ Mohammed Muizzu vows to evict Indian troops from island
Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu vowed on Friday to expel Indian troops deployed in the strategically located archipelago, in his first speech to the nation after being sworn into power.
"The country will not have any foreign military personnel in the Maldives," Muizzu said after being sworn in before chief justice Ahmed Adnan at a televised, open-air ceremony.
Muizzu did not name India — but promised he would deliver on his election promises, key among them a pledge to evict some 50 to 75 Indian security personnel.
"When it comes to our security, I will draw a red line. The Maldives will respect the red lines of other countries too,” he said.
Soon after, during a meeting with Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, the President formally requested New Delhi to withdraw its military personnel.
Meanwhile, Indian government souces have said the two sides have agreed to discuss "workable solutions" to continue the use of Indian military platforms by the island nation as they serve the interests of its people, reported NDTV.
The country's eighth President since independence from Britain in 1965, Muizzu was elected in September as a proxy for a pro-China predecessor who is jailed on corruption charges.
High-level representatives from both China and India were in attendance, as well as from Bangladesh, the Seychelles and Sri Lanka.
