India withdraws all military personnel from the Maldives

Maldivian Presidential Spokesperson Heena Waleed, in a statement to the Sun Online news site, reported that the last Indian soldiers stationed in the Maldives have left the country.

India's withdrawal of all its troops from the Maldives follows a meeting between Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and Maldivian Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer in New Delhi.

Zameer, who was making his first official visit to India, met with his counterpart Jaishankar in the capital, New Delhi, yesterday.

Jaishankar had emphasized that he hopes for a convergence of perspectives with the Maldives in various fields.

THE DEPARTURE OF INDIAN SOLDIERS FROM THE MALDIVES

Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu had ordered the withdrawal of Indian military personnel and assets from the country shortly after taking office.

Muizzu had stated that the first group of Indian soldiers, who were the target of opposition criticism, would be sent back by March 10, and that the remainder would leave the country by May 10.

The Indian Ministry of External Affairs had reported that the Maldives planned to deploy civilian personnel to replace the departing group of Indian soldiers.

The Maldivian Ministry of Defence had announced on March 5 that a military cooperation agreement had been signed with China.

News Source: 12punto