Highlights: Maldives: start of withdrawal of Indian troops, says local media. New Delhi considers this archipelago as part of its sphere of influence. Relations between India and the Maldives have deteriorated, since the election in September 2023 of President Mohamed Muizzu, considered favorable to China. Maldives gave India two months to evacuate its 89 personnel stationed in this country, where they specialize in aerial reconnaissance. After the withdrawal of the Indian military, three reconnaissance aircraft given by New Delhi to Malé to monitor its vast maritime border will be operated by civilian personnel.

This Tuesday, March 12, India began the repatriation of its soldiers stationed in the Maldives after the president of the archipelago asked Indian troops to withdraw from the territory, reported…

Maldives: start of withdrawal of Indian troops, says local media

This Tuesday, March 12, India began the repatriation of its soldiers stationed in the Maldives after the president of the archipelago asked Indian troops to withdraw from the territory, local media reported.

Aerial view of Malé, the capital of the Maldives, in the Indian Ocean (illustrative image).

Roberto SCHMIDT / AFP

By: RFI with AFP

Twenty-five Indian soldiers - stationed in the Addu atoll, the southernmost of the Maldivian atolls - were repatriated before the official date of the start of the withdrawal, says the newspaper

Mihaaru

While New Delhi considers this archipelago as part of its sphere of influence, relations between India and the

Maldives

have deteriorated, since the election in September 2023 of President Mohamed Muizzu, considered favorable to China and who promised to expel Indian forces by May 10, 2024. Neither Indian nor Maldives authorities have confirmed

Mihaaru

's information .

The newspaper specifies that the start of the withdrawal of Indian soldiers was confirmed, however, by the Maldivian Armed Forces.

Two months

Following talks, the Maldives gave India two months to evacuate its 89 personnel stationed in this country, where they specialize in aerial reconnaissance.

After the withdrawal of the Indian military, three reconnaissance aircraft given by New Delhi to Malé to monitor its vast maritime border will be operated by civilian personnel, already arrived in the Maldives, according to the newspaper.

Last week, Malé signed a "

military assistance

" agreement with Beijing that aims to "

strengthen bilateral ties

", the Maldivian Defense Ministry said after signing the agreement.

New Delhi

takes a dim view of this rapprochement between the Maldives and China, in a key region for maritime trade, off the southern tip of

India

Read also: Maldives signs defense agreement with Beijing, Indian troops close to departure

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Maldives: start of withdrawal of Indian troops, says local media

Maldives: start of withdrawal of Indian troops, says local media

Two months

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