The government, on Saturday, formally requested the Government of India to withdraw its military personnel from the Maldives.
President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu formally made the request when he met the Minister of Earth Sciences of India, Kiren Rijiju, at the President’s Office.
Shortly after the statement on the meeting was published, the statement, reference number 2023-489, disappeared from the President's Office website.
The President's Office has since issued a detailed statement while the first statement did not provide details.
According to the statement published later, the two discussed strengthening bilateral relations.
Muizzu requested the withdrawal of Indian troops and expressed hopes that the Indian government would respect the decision of the people of Maldives, it added.
President Dr Mohamed Muizzu formally made the request when he met the Minister of Earth Sciences of India Kiren Rijiju.
The initial press release on the meeting was changed after criticism that the President's Office was irresponsible in providing information on a major foreign issue.
According to other sources, during the meeting, the President stressed India’s role in monitoring and combating drug trafficking in Maldivian waters.
Muizzu also expressed his belief that the two helicopters donated by the Indian Army have played an important role in transporting patients in emergency situations.
The withdrawal of Indian troops is a pledge made during the presidential election campaign. He promised to begin work to fulfill the pledge on his first day in office.
He repeated the pledge in his first speech after taking the oath of office on Friday.
No government has yet announced the number of Indian troops in Maldives. The previous government insisted that the Indian soldiers were staying for humanitarian work and to operate a Dornier flight and two helicopters.
Meanwhile, a patient was evacuated from the Thaa Atoll Hospital to Male' on Saturday evening. The Dornier flight and helicopter are used for many rescue operations in Maldives.
