"India's Plan to Replace Military Personnel in Maldives Sparks Diplomatic Tensions"

India and the Maldives met to discuss the potential withdrawal of Indian troops from the Maldives, with New Delhi stating that they have agreed on mutually workable solutions without mentioning troop withdrawal, while the Maldives claimed that Indian troops will be replaced by May. The two countries also discussed bilateral cooperation and the operation of Indian aviation platforms providing humanitarian and medical evacuation services in the Maldives. The Maldivian President, who came to power in November, has urged India to withdraw its troops by March 15, as the Maldives has shifted into the orbit of China, its largest external creditor.