Maldives President Mohammed Muizzu had announced with the formation of the government that the Indian Army would leave his country within 10 March.
However, with the Indian Army leaving Maldives, the problems of the Muizzu government are going to increase, hence Muizzu had asked for a special team from India to help Maldives, which will replace the army.
India informed on Thursday that the first team of technical experts has reached Maldives.
Maldivian President Mohammed Muizzu had set March 10 as the deadline for the return of the first group of Indian military personnel from his country.
Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal informed in his weekly media briefing that, “The first team of technical personnel to operate the advanced light helicopter has reached Maldives. “It will replace the existing military personnel who were operating these helicopters.”
After the second meeting of the high-level core group formed to address the issue of withdrawal of Indian military personnel, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Maldives had said that India will replace all its military personnel in two phases by May 10. The second meeting of the core group was held in Delhi on February 2.
It is noteworthy that after a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Mohammad Muizz on the sidelines of the COP28 summit in Dubai in December last year, the two sides had decided to set up the core group.
Currently, around 80 Indian military personnel are in Maldives, operating mainly two helicopters and one aircraft in Maldives. The Indian Army has carried out hundreds of medical evacuation and humanitarian missions while in the Maldives.
Tension between India and Maldives after Muizzu’s arrival
However, after Muizzu came to power in November last year, there was some tension in the relations between the two countries.
Muizzu, considered a pro-China leader, said after taking over as President that he would keep his election promise of expelling Indian military personnel from the country.
45-year-old Muizzu had defeated pro-Indian candidate Ibrahim Mohammad Solih in the presidential election held in September last year.