India Withdraws Troops from Maldives as Deadline Looms

India has fully withdrawn its military personnel from theMaldives, meeting the May 10 deadline set by Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu. The repatriation of the last remaining Indian soldiers marks a significant shift in the Maldives' foreign policy as the country strengthens ties with China.

Why this matters: The withdrawal of Indian troops and the Maldives'pivot towards China highlights the growing competition between regional powers in the Indian Ocean, with implications for the balance of power in the region. As the Maldives deepens its ties with Beijing, it may lead to a shift in the regional security dynamics, potentially affecting India's influence in the area.

A total of 89 Indian troops, including 12 medical personnel, were deployed in the L. Kadhdhoo and HDh. Hanimaadhoo regions of the Maldives. The soldiers were stationed there to operate and maintain two helicopters and a Dornier aircraft gifted by India. During their tenure, they contributed to infrastructure maintenance and provided humanitarian assistance.

The withdrawal began in March, with the first batch of 51 soldiers departing, followed by a second group in April. The final batch left on May 9, a day ahead of Muizzu's deadline. Maldivian Presidential Office Chief Spokeswoman Heena Waleed confirmed, "The last batch of Indian soldiers stationed in the Maldives have been repatriated."

The repatriation of Indian military personnel was a key pledge made by Muizzu during his presidential campaign last year. The pro-China leader has pursued closer relations with Beijing since taking office in November. India and the Maldives had agreed to the troop withdrawal following four rounds of meetings between the two countries' high-level core groups.

Despite the strain on relations, the Maldives remains a key maritime neighbor for India in the Indian Ocean Region. Defence and security have been a major area of cooperation between the two nations since 1988, with India assisting in capacity building and meeting around 70% of the Maldives' defence training requirements.

As tensions grew ahead of the withdrawal deadline, India's External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar met with Maldives' Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer in New Delhi on Thursday. Jaishankar emphasized, "It is in our common interest that we reach an understanding on how best we can take our relationship forward."

The Maldives has been a focal point in the rivalry between regional powers India and China. Muizzu's election has sharpened this competition, with the Maldives taking a pro-China stand. In 2013, the Maldives joined China's Belt and Road Initiative to build ports and highways to expand trade and Beijing's influence across Asia, Africa, and Europe.

As India withdraws its troops, the Maldives has signed a military assistance pact with China that includes training for Maldivian staff. TheIndian soldiersare being replaced by civilian technical personnel who will manage the gifted aircraft. The developments underscore the shifting dynamics in the Indian Ocean as the Maldives pivots towards China, potentially impacting the delicate balance of power in the region.