Maldives Foreign Minister says his country’s relations with India go beyond troops and the two countries will work together to make Indian Ocean a peaceful place
Our Bureau
New Delhi
The Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday confirmed the withdrawal of Indian military personnel from the Maldives and the “deputation of competent persons” to the archipelago nation. “So, both Maldives and India have engaged quite some time to see how best they can continue the operation of aviation platforms. And in that regard, you have seen developments in first and second batches of people who were providing their support there, they had come back,” MEA official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a press briefing.
“Now, what I can confirm to you is that the deputation of the competent Indian technical personnel has taken place. As these platforms provide medivac services to the people of Maldives,” he added.
Indian military personnel were operating two helicopters and a Dornier aircraft in Maldives meant for providing humanitarian and medical evacuation services. They have been replaced by “competent Indian technical personnel”.
On May 3, India and Maldives held the 4th meeting of the bilateral High-Level Core Group and reviewed the replacement of Indian military personnel from the Island nation by May 10.
Mohamed Muizzu-led Maldives government had formally requested India withdraw its troops from Male. Meanwhile, Maldives Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer on Thursday said that his country’s defense relations with India go beyond military personnel and the two countries will work together to make Indian Ocean a peaceful place.
The Maldives Minister, who arrived in India on May 8, said that the platforms which were being handled by Indian military personnel will be handled by civilians. “I think Maldives-India defense relations go beyond military personnel. And now, those platforms which have been handled by the military personnel will be handled by civilians. We have had a joint exercise with the Maldivian military, Indian military and Sri Lanka, I think Bangladesh is an observer and we will continue to have these exercises,” he said in an interview.
“Peace and security of the Indian Ocean is important for both Maldives as well as India. So, we will work together to make the Indian Ocean a peaceful place,” he added.
In his remarks during his meeting with the visiting Maldives Foreign Minister, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said India has been a key provider of development assistance to the Maldives.
Jaishankar also said that as close and proximate neighbors, the development of bilateral ties is obviously based on mutual interests and reciprocal sensitivity.
“As far as India is concerned, these are articulated in terms of our Neighborhood First policy and SAGAR vision.”
Maldives Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer on Thursday said discussions were held with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar regarding President Mohamed Muizzu’s visit to India “very soon’. Maldives Foreign Minister also defended President Muizzu’s move to visit China and not India after he was elected to the top office and said that the discussion was held with New Delhi over the visit to India but was pushed back considering the ‘convenience’ of both sides.
“The president visited Turkey as well as China. I think that mainly on convenience because obviously, we did discuss with Delhi about a visit. But for the convenience of both sides, we thought it might be okay for us to delay it a little bit,” he said.
The minister also shared that during his recent meeting with the External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar, discussions were held to organize President Muizzu’s visit to Delhi.
“So, in fact, even today, with my discussions with the External Affairs Minister, we are discussing the President’s visit to Delhi very soon. Hopefully,” he said.
He also made it amply clear that there is no military pact with China.
“I don’t think there is any military pact with China. One thing the President of Maldives has clearly said is that we are not bringing in any foreign militaries in the Maldives, no, we are not,” he said.
Elaborating on the port call for Chinese vessels, he said, “Our government issued personal rotation and friendly portable permits, and diplomatic clearances came from the Chinese side, which is very common in Maldives.”
“So that’s how it has happened we as a peaceful country, welcome those vessels which come for peaceful purposes. But they didn’t come for research in the Maldivian waters, we have not permitted the Chinese vessel for research in the Maldivian waters,” Maldivian Foreign Minister said while maintaining that research vessels are not welcome in the Maldivian waters.
