Maldives’ Foreign Ministry on Friday said India will replace its military personnel in three aviation platforms in the island country. The first phase of this process will be completed by March 10.
The statement from the Maldives Foreign Ministry came hours after a high-level meeting between the two sides on the contentious issue.
The meeting of the core group of the two countries was held in Delhi, in which the topic of withdrawal of Indian military personnel from Maldives was mainly discussed.
The Ministry of External Affairs said both sides agreed to some mutually acceptable solutions for the continued operation of Indian aviation platforms in the Maldives.
Last month, Maldivian President Mohammed Muizzu had asked India to withdraw all its military personnel from the island nation by March 15.
In its statement, the Ministry of External Affairs said that both sides have agreed to some mutually acceptable solutions for the continued operation of the Indian aviation platform providing humanitarian assistance and medical evacuation services to the people of Maldives.
It said it was agreed to hold the next meeting of the high-level core group in Male at a mutually convenient date.
80 military personnel in Maldives
Currently, about 80 Indian military personnel are in Maldives, mainly to operate two helicopters and one aircraft.
Through these, hundreds of medical rescue and humanitarian aid missions have been completed. Relations between the two countries came under strain after Muizzu came to power in November last year.
After taking charge, Muizzu, widely considered a pro-China leader, has said that he will fulfill his election promise by expelling Indian military personnel from the country.