Defense cooperation agreement signed between the two countries. (file photo)
The first of the Indian military personnel posted in Maldives has left for India. Maldivian media had given information about the departure of the soldiers. An official of Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) had said that about 25 Indian soldiers deployed in Addu city have left for India. The MNDF official confirmed that as agreed, Indian troops left the country before 10 March. The officer further said that the remaining Indian military personnel posted elsewhere in Maldives will also leave by May 10.
Maldives President Mohammed Muizzu is seen as a pro-China leader. He said that after May 10, no Indian military personnel, even in civilian clothes, will be present inside his country. He had said last week that on May 10, there will be no Indian soldiers in the country, neither in uniform nor in civilian clothes. The Indian Army will not stay in this country wearing any kind of clothes.
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After a high-level meeting in New Delhi on February 2, the Foreign Ministry of Maldives had said that India will replace its military personnel operating three aviation platforms in Maldives by May 10 and the first phase of the process will begin from March 10. . Muizzu came to power last year with an anti-India stance. Within hours of taking oath, he had demanded India to withdraw its personnel from the strategically located archipelagic nation in the Indian Ocean. Last week, MNDF had signed an agreement with the Chinese Army. Under this deal, China will supply non-lethal weapons to Maldives for free.