Editor's Pick | Maldives President Muizzu sets March 15 deadline for India to withdraw troops

Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu has asked India to withdraw its troops from the island nation by March 15 as the strain on ties between the two countries grows. Abdullah Nazim Ibrahim, the Principal Secretary to President Muizzu on Public Policy, told a press conference at the Presidential Palace in Malé that Indian military personnel will no longer be permitted to reside in the Maldives, and that the troops have been asked to leave by March 15, 2024, according to Malé-based media. The strain was triggered most recently when three junior ministers of the Muizzu administration criticised Indians and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his Lakshadweep visit. It also comes after Mr. Muizzu’s visit to China, where he agreed to “elevate” strategic ties with Beijing. On his return on Saturday, he told local media that the Maldives may be small, but “will not be bullied” by anyone. The announcement related to the troops was made even as a high-level core group between India and Maldives held its first meeting in Malé. The group was set up when the Maldivian President and Prime Minister Modi met on the sidelines of the UN climate summit in Dubai in 2023. A statement issued by India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) after the Core Group meeting on Sunday did not mention the request for Indian troops’ withdrawal. The MEA said that both sides discussed “finding [a] mutually workable solution to enable continued operation of Indian aviation platforms that provide humanitarian and medvac [medical evacuation] services to the people of Maldives.” On the other hand, the press statement issued by the Maldives’ Ministry of Foreign Affairs said: “Both sides expressed willingness to intensify cooperation and agreed to fast-track the withdrawal of Indian military personnel.” MEA officials did not respond to The Hindu’s queries on whether India has received a formal request for the withdrawal of Indian soldiers. The demand for the withdrawal of Indian troops, however, is not new for President Muizzu. It was also his chief poll pledge last year. The Hindu’s Editorials Closer to closure: On the Savad arrest and Professor T.J. Joseph case in Kerala Prohibitive price gains: On the Consumer Food Price Index The Hindu’s Daily News Quiz Who was chosen as the chairperson of the INDIA bloc on Saturday? Mamata Banerjee Arvind Kejriwal Nitish Kumar Mallikarjun Kharge To know the answer and to play the full quiz, click here. [logo] Editor's Pick 15 January 2024 [The Hindu logo] In the Editor's Pick newsletter, The Hindu explains why a story was important enough to be carried on the front page of today's edition of our newspaper. [[Arrow]Open in browser]( [[Mail icon]More newsletters]( Maldives President Muizzu sets March 15 deadline for India to withdraw troops Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu has asked India [to withdraw its troops from the island nation by March 15Â]( the strain on ties between the two countries grows. Abdullah Nazim Ibrahim, the Principal Secretary to President Muizzu on Public Policy, told a press conference at the Presidential Palace in Malé that Indian military personnel will no longer be permitted to reside in the Maldives, and that the troops have been asked to leave by March 15, 2024, according to Malé-based media. The strain was triggered most recently when three junior ministers of the Muizzu administration criticised Indians and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his Lakshadweep visit. It also comes after Mr. Muizzu’s visit to China, where he agreed to “elevate” strategic ties with Beijing. On his return on Saturday, he told local media that the Maldives may be small, but “will not be bullied” by anyone. The announcement related to the troops was made even as a high-level core group between India and Maldives held its first meeting in Malé. The group was set up when the Maldivian President and Prime Minister Modi met on the sidelines of the UN climate summit in Dubai in 2023. A statement issued by India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) after the Core Group meeting on Sunday did not mention the request for Indian troops’ withdrawal. The MEA said that both sides discussed “finding [a] mutually workable solution to enable continued operation of Indian aviation platforms that provide humanitarian and medvac [medical evacuation] services to the people of Maldives.” On the other hand, the press statement issued by the Maldives’ Ministry of Foreign Affairs said: “Both sides expressed willingness to intensify cooperation and agreed to fast-track the withdrawal of Indian military personnel.” MEA officials did not respond to The Hindu’s queries on whether India has received a formal request for the withdrawal of Indian soldiers. The demand for the withdrawal of Indian troops, however, is not new for President Muizzu. It was also his chief poll pledge last year. The Hindu’s Editorials [Arrow][Closer to closure: On the Savad arrest and Professor T.J. Joseph case in Kerala]( [Arrow][Prohibitive price gains: On the Consumer Food Price Index]( The Hindu’s Daily News Quiz Who was chosen as the chairperson of the INDIA bloc on Saturday? - Mamata Banerjee - Arvind Kejriwal - Nitish Kumar - Mallikarjun Kharge To know the answer and to play the full quiz, [click here](. [Sign up for free]( Today’s Best Reads [[Looking for Israel jobs? Read the fine print] Looking for Israel jobs? Read the fine print]( [[Breaking ground: Women commandos take on Maoist stronghold] Breaking ground: Women commandos take on Maoist stronghold]( [[Medical care on India’s trains is running late, with passengers at risk | Explained] Medical care on India’s trains is running late, with passengers at risk | Explained]( [[Army personnel pillars of strength, resilience: PM Modi on Army Day] Army personnel pillars of strength, resilience: PM Modi on Army Day]( Copyright @ 2023, THG PUBLISHING PVT LTD. 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