Maldives Urges India to Remove Military Presence

The Maldives has officially requested India to withdraw its military presence from the country, fulfilling one of the key promises of newly sworn-in President Mohamed Muizzu. The two governments are discussing "workable solutions" for continued cooperation, as Indian soldiers are involved in medical evacuation and anti-drug trafficking operations. President Muizzu emphasized that the Maldives will not have any foreign military personnel, but he also expressed his intention not to replace Indian troops with Chinese forces. The announcement coincided with a meeting between President Muizzu and the Special Envoy of the Chinese President, where they discussed strengthening bilateral relations.