GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 25th Jan. The Chief of the Indian Navy, Admiral R. Hari Kumar, stated on Thursday that the government has not instructed defense personnel to withdraw from Maldives, despite a request from the Maldivian government.
This comes as India’s relationship with Maldives has become strained since President Mohamed Muizzu’s election win last year, where he promised to move away from an “India First” policy and called for the withdrawal of Indian troops by March 15.
Muizzu’s decisions are seen as a shift towards building stronger ties with China, which competes with India for influence in the region.
Admiral Kumar mentioned that they are waiting for instructions and that New Delhi has not yet communicated any decision to the navy.
Currently, there are around 80 Indian soldiers stationed in the Maldives to provide support for military equipment and assist in humanitarian activities.
