India Maldives Row: Following President Mohamed Muizzu’s announcement on the subject, the Indian armed troops would await orders from the government about their withdrawal from the Maldives by March 15, defence officials told India Today. According to the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF), India now has 77 Indian personnel and assets.
Diplomatic Spat Unleashed
This occurred in the midst of a diplomatic spat that broke out last week following the offensive social media statements made by three deputy ministers in Muizzu’s administration disparaging Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The three suspended deputy ministers implied that PM Modi was trying to position the Union Territory as a tourism destination that would rival the Maldives by denigrating his post on ‘X’ after his visit to Lakshadweep.
Historical Tensions Unveiled
Tensions have existed between the island nation and India ever since Muizzu was elected president of the Maldives last year. Muizzu, who was seen as pro-China, ran on a platform of “India Out.” India donated Dornier planes and Dhruv helicopters to the Maldives to help them enhance its capabilities approximately ten years ago.
These planes are maintained by the Indian armed forces, who also provide Maldivian personnel with training there. The Maldives are situated close to important Indian Ocean shipping channels. For nations like China, Japan, and India, the energy supply is guaranteed by this strategic location.
Heightened Significance for India
A few years ago, China began deploying its naval vessels to the Indian Ocean’s Gulf of Aden under the pretext of counterterrorism measures. The Maldives have grown even more significant to India since then.
The Maldives, whose economy is primarily based on tourism, welcomes more than two lakh Indian visitors each year. In 2022, 2.41 lakh individuals visited the island nation, and in 2023, almost two lakh people did the same, according to the Indian High Commission in Male.
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