The Government of Maldives has formally requested the Government of India to withdraw its military personnel from the Maldives.

The request was formally made by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, during his meeting with the Minister of Earth Sciences of India Kiren Rijiju.

The meeting took place at the President’s Office, on Saturday.

During the meeting, 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 honor the democratic will of the people of the Maldives. While discussing the matter with Minister Kiren Rijiju, President Dr. Muizzu also acknowledged the significant role of the two helicopters in providing numerous emergency medical evacuations.

The meeting also saw President Dr Muizzu and Minister Kiren Rijiju reviewing the progress of the implementation of various projects in the Maldives with the support of India. As such, the President emphasized on the importance of accelerating the Greater Male' Connectivity Project (GMCP) and highlighted the importance of addressing and overcoming the issues delaying the project.

Furthermore, the Indian Minister conveyed his best wishes to the President, representing the sentiments of the Government and the people of India. The Minister expressed his aspiration to foster a constructive relationship with the Maldives, acknowledging the presence of a vibrant Indian community residing in the Maldives.

President Dr Muizzu and Minister Kiren Rijiju concluded the meeting with a renewed commitment to fortify the bilateral relations between the two countries.