Discussions have been held regarding the progress in withdrawing Indian military personnel from the Maldives.

The discussions were held during the third meeting of the High-Level Core Group between the Maldives and India.

The meeting was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Malé, on March 17.

Discussions focused on the progress that has been made in efforts to replace Indian military personnel with Maldivian officers, at the aviation platforms of the island nation.

By March 10, all Indian troops in southernmost Addu City were withdrawn. Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) revealed that all the Indian military personnel stationed in Addu have left and that they left in different groups.

Troops from the remaining two platforms will be replaced on April 10 and May 10, according to the ministry.

Discussions also revolved around a broad range of areas in economic and development cooperation between the two countries as well as recently-concluded capacity building programs.

Further, both sides touched upon areas related to bilateral cooperation aimed at enhancing the ties between the governments of Maldives and India, including expediting the implementation of ongoing development projects.

The fourth meeting of the High-Level Core Group is to be held in New Delhi on a mutually agreeable date.

The governments of Maldives and India agreed that India would withdraw the military personnel in one of the three aviation platform by 10 March 2024, during the second meeting of the high-level core group between the Maldives and India. The second meeting was held at the Ministry of External Affairs, in New Delhi on February 2.

During his first-ever presidential address delivered to the public at the inaugural sitting of the first People’s Majlis session of 2024, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu announced that the governments of India and Maldives have agreed to complete the process of withdrawing military personnel by 10 May 2024.

The president noted back then that efforts were underway to evacuate Indian military personnel from the Maldives, and this was being done through dialogue and discussions from both sides, under diplomatic rules.

The latest agreement to withdraw the Indian military personnel in one of the three aviation platform by 10 March 2024 was made during the second meeting of the high-level core group between the Maldives and India on February 2.

Shedding light on this meeting, President Muizzu earlier stated that it was agreed to withdraw the troops from one platform by March 10 and the troops from the remaining two platforms would be withdrawn by May 10.

26 soldiers were sent to Maldives by India to take over the helicopter operations, in February 2023.

Stressing on the need to increase resources for the defence and security of the island nation, the president earlier said that there was a need to enhance the archipelago nation’s capabilities to defend itself by land, sea, and air routes.

The president noted that the biggest pledge he made was to protect the sovereignty and independence of the Maldivian people.