Delhi, Male to discuss ‘workable solutions’ for use of Indian military platforms in Maldives

New Delhi, Nov 18: India and the Maldives on Saturday agreed to discuss “workable solutions” to continue use of Indian military platforms by the island nation as such a corporation serves interests of Maldivian people, sources said after a meeting between Union minister Kiren Rijiju and new Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu in Male.
Rijiju called on Muizzu, widely seen as a pro-China leader, at his office, a day after attending the Maldivian leader’s inauguration ceremony. A statement released by the Maldivian president’s office said Muizzu “formally requested the government of India to withdraw its military personnel from the Maldives” in the meeting.
Muizzu has maintained that he will keep his election promise of evicting Indian military personnel from his country. “At the meeting, President Muizzu had formally requested the Government of India to withdraw its military personnel from the Maldives,” the statement said. “The President noted that at the presidential election held in September, the Maldivian people had given him a strong mandate to make the request to India and expressed the hope that India will honour the democratic will of the people of the Maldives,” it added.
The Indian government sources said Muizzu, in the meeting, brought up the issue of Indian military personnel present in the Maldives for operating aircraft for medical evacuation and to counter drug trafficking. “They are also central to the confidence that international tourists have in staying in remote islands. He appreciated their role in monitoring and combating drug trafficking,” said a source.
The Maldives is one of India’s key maritime neighbours in the Indian Ocean Region and the overall bilateral ties including in areas of defence have been on an upward trajectory under the government of Ibrahim Solih.
Muizzu defeated Solih in the presidential runoff in September. (PTI)