Maldives President Muizzu denies pursuing 'India Out' campaign
Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu has dismissed claims of an "India Out" policy during his visit to the United States for the United Nations General Assembly. Speaking at Princeton University's "Dean's Leadership Series," he clarified that the Maldives has never been against any particular nation. He also addressed concerns about foreign military presence on Maldivian soil, stating, "The people of Maldives do not want a single foreign soldier in the country."
Muizzu's stance on foreign military presence
Ties between India and the Maldives have been tense since his pro-China government took charge in November last year. Not long after taking office, Muizzu asked India to pull out almost 90 Indian military personnel who were overseeing three aviation platforms gifted by India. By May 10, India had followed through with this request and swapped its military personnel for civilian staff to manage a Dornier aircraft and two helicopters.
Muizzu addresses social media controversy
Apart from tackling military issues, Muizzu also touched on a recent social media storm involving some derogatory posts about Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi by deputy ministers in the Maldives's youth ministry. He confirmed that he had taken action against these officials for their inappropriate comments. "No one should say such a thing. I took action against it," he said, stressing his commitment to respecting everyone, no matter who they are.
Muizzu to visit India in October
Muizzu will travel to India in the second week of October for a visit aimed at resetting bilateral relations after a contentious period. His meetings with Indian authorities, including PM Modi, have been arranged for October 7, according to people familiar with the matter. This will also be Muizzu's first bilateral visit to India since he became president in November 2023.
