Mohamed Muizzu, the president of the Maldives, announced that Indian troops stationed in the Indian Ocean archipelago will leave the country by May 10, 2024. The culmination of a long campaign by the new head of state hostile to India. And a possible rapprochement with China.
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With our correspondent in the region, Sébastien Farcis
There are 77 Indian soldiers present today at the Maldivesengaged in three projects: an aerial patrol of the territorial waters of the archipelago, a mapping of its maritime resources and the creation of a new coast guard port.
But that will soon change, says the new president Mohamed Muizzu, in front of Parliament: “ Negotiations concluded that Indian military personnel from one of the three platforms will leave before March 10. And those from the other two sites will leave the country by May 10 “.
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His government’s press release, however, explains that India ” will replace » these troops, perhaps by civilians. This logistical support will therefore continue while reducing the fear of Indian military espionage. This therefore marks a distancing from the Indian neighbor and a rapprochement with the other Chinese regional force: President Muizzu has in fact just led a five-day visit to China, during which he signed several contracts.
A Chinese surveillance boat is due to arrive in the Maldives in the coming days, which is of great concern to India, whose coast is only a few hundred kilometers away.
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