Maldives president Mohamed Muizzu says he never espoused ‘India Out’ agenda
He claimed that he only advocated removing foreign military personnel from the archipelago, which had been been a demand of the citizens of his country.
Join our WhatsApp Community to receive travel deals, free stays, and special offers!
- Join Now -
Join our WhatsApp Community to receive travel deals, free stays, and special offers!
- Join Now -
Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu on Friday denied having espoused an “India Out” policy and claimed that he only advocated removing foreign military personnel from the country.
He was quoted as saying by Maldivian news portal Adhadhu that the people of his country did not “want a single foreign soldier” on their land.
“We have never been against any one country at any point,” Muizzu said in New York, where he was attending the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly. “It’s not ‘India Out’. Maldives faced a serious problem with foreign military presence on this soil.”
Muizzu, considered to hold a favourable stance towards China, had led an “India Out” campaign during the tenure of his predecessor Ibrahim Solih, protesting his policies that were perceived to be friendly towards New Delhi. Removing foreign military from the archipelago was a key poll promise for Muizzu before he became the president on November 17.
India was the only foreign power with a military presence in the Maldives. A group of Indian defence personnel had been maintaining radar stations and surveillance aircraft in the archipelago. Indian warships also helped patrol the Maldives’ exclusive economic zone.
On May 10, Maldives said that India had withdrawn all its military personnel from the archipelago.
Muizzu also said on Friday that he...
