"Maldives' President-Elect Pledges to Remove Indian Military, Strengthen Ties with China"

The president-elect of the Maldives, Mohamed Muiz, has pledged to remove Indian military personnel stationed in the archipelago state, fulfilling his campaign promise and signaling a blow to India's influence in the region. The election was seen as a referendum on whether India or China would have greater sway over the Maldives. Muiz's party is viewed as pro-China, and his main campaign theme centered around an alleged threat to the Maldives' sovereignty posed by Indian military personnel. Outgoing President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih denied any violation of sovereignty and stated that the Indian military's presence was for the purpose of building a dockyard. The number of Indian troops in the Maldives is unknown, and the agreement between the two governments has been shrouded in secrecy, leading to suspicion and rumor.