The President of the Maldives has issued a deadline for the withdrawal of Indian troops from the nation's soil. This decision comes approximately two months after the president's call to end the presence of foreign military on Maldivian territory.
The current Maldivian President, who ascended to power with a campaign titled "India Out," has consistently underlined the necessity of ensuring the absence of any foreign military forces within the country. This commitment to removing Indian troops from the Maldives formed a central pillar of President Muizzu's electoral promises.
The three ministers were sacked and the Maldivian Opposition criticised the comments, but the President said "We may be small but no one has the license to bully us".
Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim, the public policy secretary at the President's Office, said, "Indian military personnel cannot stay in the Maldives. This is the policy of President Dr Mohamed Muizzu and that of this administration."
According to reports, around 88 Indian troops are present in Maldives.