NEW DELHI: The ministry of external affairs on Friday announced that the first group of Indian personnel in the Maldives has been replaced by technical staff.
Addressing a press briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “the turnaround of the first team of personnel who were operating the ALH helicopter has been completed. So, the first batch that had to be replaced has been completed.The turnaround has happened.”
This move comes after the Maldives government, led by Mohamed Muizzu, formally requested the withdrawal of Indian troops from Male.
Both India and the Maldives have reached an agreement on viable solutions to ensure the ongoing operation of Indian aviation platforms providing essential services like humanitarian aid and medical evacuations to the Maldivian people.
Last month, the MEA confirmed the arrival of the first batch of Indian technical personnel to take over from the defense personnel. Three high-level core group meetings have been held between India and the Maldives, with another meeting on the horizon.
Maldives President Muizzu, who came into power in September, had promised to remove Indian security personnel deployed in the Maldives to patrol its vast maritime border.
Last week, the Maldives signed a ‘military assistance’ agreement with China, coinciding with the departure of Indian forces. The Maldivian defence ministry stated that the deal aimed to strengthen bilateral ties and that China would provide training to its staff as part of the agreement.
India has been wary of China’s growing presence in the Indian Ocean and its influence in the Maldives, as well as in neighboring Sri Lanka. Both the countries are strategically located along key east-west international shipping routes.
Muizzu, who visited Beijing in January and signed various deals, including those related to infrastructure, energy, marine, and agriculture, has previously denied any intention to replace Indian troops with Chinese forces.
Addressing a press briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “the turnaround of the first team of personnel who were operating the ALH helicopter has been completed. So, the first batch that had to be replaced has been completed.The turnaround has happened.”
This move comes after the Maldives government, led by Mohamed Muizzu, formally requested the withdrawal of Indian troops from Male.
Both India and the Maldives have reached an agreement on viable solutions to ensure the ongoing operation of Indian aviation platforms providing essential services like humanitarian aid and medical evacuations to the Maldivian people.
Last month, the MEA confirmed the arrival of the first batch of Indian technical personnel to take over from the defense personnel. Three high-level core group meetings have been held between India and the Maldives, with another meeting on the horizon.
Maldives President Muizzu, who came into power in September, had promised to remove Indian security personnel deployed in the Maldives to patrol its vast maritime border.
Last week, the Maldives signed a ‘military assistance’ agreement with China, coinciding with the departure of Indian forces. The Maldivian defence ministry stated that the deal aimed to strengthen bilateral ties and that China would provide training to its staff as part of the agreement.
India has been wary of China’s growing presence in the Indian Ocean and its influence in the Maldives, as well as in neighboring Sri Lanka. Both the countries are strategically located along key east-west international shipping routes.
Muizzu, who visited Beijing in January and signed various deals, including those related to infrastructure, energy, marine, and agriculture, has previously denied any intention to replace Indian troops with Chinese forces.