PRESIDENT of the Maldives, Mohamed Muizzu, has set a deadline for India to withdraw its military personnel from the island nation, emphasizing that Indian troops should leave by 15 March. Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim, the public policy secretary at the President’s Office, emphasized: “Indian military personnel cannot stay in the Maldives. This is the policy of President Dr Mohamed Muizzu and that of this administration.”
It is not an abrupt policy reversal, rather a well-thought-out plan which has the backing of the people of Maldives as President Mohamed Muizzu contested last year’s elections on ‘India out’ premise and got a mandate from the electorate for the purpose. The campaign was spearheaded by former President Abdulla Yameen (2013-2018) which targeted President Ibrahim Solih (2018-2023) for allegedly compromising Maldivian sovereignty by permitting the stationing of Indian military personnel in the Maldives and Muizzu made the eviction of Indian security personnel an important part of his campaign strategy. The demand emanates from formidable fears that New Delhi has hegemonic designs that could erode the country’s autonomy. During the election campaign, the President’s Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) had claimed that India had plans to use the military base that it was building on the island of Uthuru Thila Falhu near Male to take over the country. India is reported to have stationed reconnaissance aircraft and military choppers as well as military personnel on Maldivian soil enhancing India’s capability to monitor Chinese maritime and naval movements along vital sea lanes of communication that run alongside the Maldives. The policy of President Muizzu is highlighted by his assertions: “We may be small, but no one has the license to bully us.” He is trying to pursue a balanced foreign policy in line with national interests of his country and it was in this backdrop that unlike his predecessors, who used to make India as the first foreign destination after their swearing in, President Muizzu chose to visit Turkiye. He is also viewed as pro-China and wants to actively participate in the historic ‘Belt and Road Initiative’ of his Chinese counterpart. That the President really wants to pursue an independent foreign policy is evident from his assurances that he has no intention to replace Indian military personnel with Chinese troops. As for India, it has all along adopted a policy of bullying and pressurizing its small neighbours which sparks genuine apprehensions in the Maldives. It must shun this policy and respect the will of the Maldivian people.
