Maldives says India to 'replace' its military troops by May 10 this year

The Maldives foreign ministry on February 2 said that India has agreed to 'replace' all of its troops by May 10 this year.

In a statement issued shortly after concluding the second round of talks with India, Maldives said that New Delhi will replace its personnel from the first aviation platform by March 10, and from the other two aviation platforms by May 10 this year.

"Both sides agreed that the Government of India will replace the military personnel in one of the three aviation platform by March 10 and will complete replacing military personnel in the other two platforms by May 10," the Maldivian foreign ministry said.

"It was agreed that the third meeting of the High-Level core Group will be held in Male’
on a mutually agreeable date during the last week of February," the statement added

India, on the other hand, said it agreed on a "set of mutually workable solutions" to enable the continued operation of Indian aviation platforms on the island.

"Both sides also agreed on a set of mutually workable solutions to enable continued operation of Indian aviation platforms that provide humanitarian and medvac services to the people of Maldives. It was agreed to hold the next meeting of the High Level Core Group in Male' on a
mutually convenient date," the ministry added.

Last month, Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu asked India to withdraw all its military personnel from the island nation by March 15.

There are 77 Indian military personnel stationed in Maldives to operate two helicopters and an aircraft used for medical evacuations and humanitarian missions. The ties between Maldives and India have come under strain since President Mohamed Muizzu came to power in November.