Explained: History of Indian troops in Maldives and what has changed now

Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu on Saturday (November 18) formally requested India to “withdraw” its military personnel from his country, saying the island nation’s people have given a “strong mandate” to make this request to New Delhi.

Muizzu’s request came less than 24 hours after taking oath when India’s Union Minister Kiren Rejiju paid a courtesy call on the new president at the latter’s office, the Maldivian President’s Office said in a press release.

A close aide of former Maldives President Abdulla Yameen, who forged strong ties with China during his Presidency from 2013 to 2018, Muizzu defeated India-friendly incumbent Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in the presidential runoff held in September. Muizzu had indicated during the election campaign that the withdrawal of Indian military troops from the island nation is among the issues that need to be resolved by the two countries.

Why Maldives has requested New Delhi to withdraw its troops from the island nation

Muizzu rode to power on an ‘India Out’ campaign and defeated President Ibu Solih, who was viewed as friendly to India. As expected, the new President hit the ground running, as soon after the oath-taking on Friday, Muizzu asserted that he was firmly committed to ensuring that his country remains “free” of any “foreign military presence” to preserve its independence and sovereignty. However, he did not name any country in his inaugural address. He 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,” a statement from the President’s office said. “The President noted that at the presidential election held in September, the Maldivian people had given him a strong mandate to request India to withdraw its troops and expressed the hope that India will honour the democratic will of the people of the Maldives,” it added.

Why Maldives is of great strategic importance to India

Maldives is India’s key maritime neighbour in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and occupies a special place in the Prime Minister’s vision of ‘SAGAR’ (Security and Growth for All in the Region) and the ‘Neighbourhood First Policy.’ Maldives’ proximity to the west coast of India (barely 70 nautical miles away from Minicoy and 300 nautical miles away from India’s West coast), and its location at the hub of commercial sea lanes running through the Indian Ocean gives it significant strategic importance to India.

The island nation serves as a crucial crossroads for vital maritime routes. Making sure maritime security and safeguarding the free movement of vessels through these waters is of great significance to India. India’s ties with the Maldives faced numerous challenges during former President Abdulla Yameen’s term in office, though they improved to a great extent under President Solih.

Why Maldives has emerged as a geopolitical hotspot, and the China angle

A popular tourist destination, the Maldives is home to about 5 lakh people. However, the island nation has become a geopolitical hotspot amid the increasing strategic importance of the Indian Ocean Region and border tensions between major Asian players India and China. Both Beijing and New Delhi have extended generous aid for the development of the archipelagic nation.

In August last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and then Maldivian President Solih kick-started the India-funded Greater Male connectivity project, billed as the largest infrastructure initiative in the island nation. Under the Greater Male Connectivity Project (GMCP) project, a 6.74 km long bridge and causeway link will be built to connect the capital city Male with adjoining islands of Villingli, Gulhifalhu and Thilafushi. The Maldives is also one of the biggest beneficiaries of India's Neighbourhood First Policy.

Interestingly, the Maldives President has emphasised that they want to work together with both India and China while underlining the fact that they are “too small a nation to be entangled in geopolitical rivalry”. He also clarified in an interview with AFP that he does not intend to upend the regional balance by replacing the Indian military with Chinese troops.

Meanwhile, China has been stepping up its naval presence in the Indian Ocean, and the Maldives is no exception to it. Over the years, China has emerged as the biggest source of the island nation’s tourist traffic. It has also funded huge infrastructure projects on the islands, including a new 1,000-unit housing development project. China has also become the Maldives’ first-ever free trade agreement partner. This is not all. The Maldives has also joined China’s ambitious “Belt and Road” initiative, causing unease in India.

Besides, the fact that President Muizzu is a close aide of former President Yameen who borrowed heavily from Beijing during his tenure from 2013 to 2018 doesn’t augur well for India. Not too long ago, Muizzu had told the Chinese Communist Party that he wanted stronger ties with Beijing should his party win the elections. “We look forward to returning to government in 2023, with President Yameen at the helm, to script a further chapter of strong ties between our two countries, both domestically and internationally,” he had said. When Yameen was barred from contesting the election because of a criminal conviction and an 11-year jail term for corruption, he nominated Muizzu.

What’s the backdrop of the Indian military’s presence in the Maldives and what’s the current scenario?

It was November 3, 1988, when the predawn silence in the Maldivian capital, Male, was broken by the sound of machine guns, rockets, and grenades. It was a coup attempt aimed at unseating the then Maldives President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom who sent an SOS to the United States, the United Kingdom, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Malaysia. However, it was the Indian government that swung into action swiftly and launched Operation Cactus by the Indian Air Force and Indian army troops to save the Gayoom regime. Now, 35 years later, President Muizzu has formally asked India to withdraw its troops from the Maldives.

At present, India has just about 70 soldiers in the island nation. These personnel operate India-sponsored radars and surveillance aircraft. Indian warships in the region help patrol the country’s exclusive economic zone. According to a statement issued by his office, President Muizzu acknowledged the significant role of two Indian helicopters in numerous emergency medical evacuations. This small group of Indian soldiers has been stationed in the Maldives for several years now.

Earlier, the Ministry of External Affairs had said India’s cooperation with Maldives is based on jointly addressing shared challenges and priorities. India’s assistance and platforms have contributed significantly to public welfare, humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, and in combating illegal maritime activities in the island nation, the ministry said.