Maldives President-elect vows to end foreign military presence

The newly-elected Maldivian president, Mohamed Muizzu, promised to terminate foreign military deployments in the nation during a public rally in Male. While he refrained from explicitly mentioning India, it remains the sole foreign country with military forces stationed in the Maldives. Muizzu stated, “We will be sending back military forces based in the Maldives according to law.” He emphasised this move as the decision of the Maldivian people.

Historically, the Maldives has seen shifts in alignment. The prior president, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, nurtured the nation’s ties with India. Conversely, his predecessor, Abdulla Yameen, tilted the Maldives towards China, accruing significant Chinese debts for infrastructure development. Muizzu, seen as Yameen’s proxy and recently facilitating his transition from prison to house arrest, asserts his primary allegiance is to the Maldives, dismissing labels of being pro-China. Upon his win, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his congratulations and reaffirmed India’s commitment to robust bilateral ties. Similarly, China acknowledged Muizzu’s election, expressing intentions to bolster their long-standing friendly relations.

The Maldives, a crucial player due to its location amidst bustling shipping lanes, has always been of strategic significance. Muizzu, in a prior interaction with Chinese officials, had highlighted the potential for bolstering relations between the Maldives and China.