The Maldives president-elect wants Indian forces to leave the country.

President-elect Muizzu

In an interview with the BBC today, October 23, President-elect Muizzu said that within days of winning the election on September 30, he met with the Indian Ambassador in Malé, Munu Mahawir, and "made it clear that all Indian military personnel in the Maldives should leave."

"We do not want any foreign military presence on Maldivian soil… I promised this to the Maldivian people and I will fulfill that promise on my first day (in office)," Muizzu emphasized.

Maldives has long been under India's influence, and Mr. Muizzu's demands are likely to reignite diplomatic tensions between Malé and New Delhi.

The coalition that supported Muizzu in the recent election campaign called the pro-India policies of incumbent President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih a threat to the sovereignty and security of the South Pacific island nation.

If President Solih pursued a foreign policy that drew closer to New Delhi since he took office in 2018, Muizzu's rise to power is expected to further strengthen relations between the Maldives and China.

China currently invests hundreds of millions of dollars in the Maldives in the form of loans and support for development and infrastructure projects.

Meanwhile, India also provided approximately $2 billion in development aid to the Maldives.

India maintains units of approximately 75 military personnel in the Maldives to maintain the aircraft and helicopters previously donated to the island nation.

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