President-elect Muizzu
In an interview with the BBC today, October 23, President-elect Muizzu said that within a few days of winning the election on September 30, he met with the Indian Ambassador in the capital Malé Munu Mahawir and "made it clear that all Indian soldiers in the Maldives should leave."
"We do not want any foreign military presence on Maldivian soil… I have promised this to the Maldivian people and I will fulfill my promise on the first day (of taking office)," Mr. Muizzu stressed.
The Maldives has long been under India's influence and Mr Muizzu's request is likely to stoke diplomatic tensions between Malé and New Delhi.
The coalition that backed Mr. Muizzu in the recent election campaign called the pro-India policy of incumbent President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih a threat to the sovereignty and security of the South Pacific island nation.
If President Solih has pursued a foreign policy of closer ties with New Delhi since he took office in 2018, Muizzu's ascension to power is expected to further strengthen ties 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 provides about $2 billion in development aid to Maldives.
India is maintaining units of about 75 military personnel in the Maldives to maintain planes and helicopters previously provided to the island nation.
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