India-Maldives row escalates with troop removal order, as Male continues pivot to Beijing

The row that was sparked by tourism comments on social media has escalated with Male telling New Delhi to withdraw its troops by March 15

The demand followed a visit by President Mohamed Muizzu to China, sharpening a rivalry between New Delhi and Beijing that have been vying for influence over the Maldives

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Maldives’ President Mohamed Muizzu (right) and Chinese President Xi Jinping at a welcome ceremony in Beijing on January 10. Photo: AFP

Published: 6:30pm, 17 Jan 2024

A row between India and the Maldives sparked by tourism comments on social media appears unlikely to end soon, with Male telling New Delhi to withdraw its troops from the island nation by March 15.

The order to remove around 80 Indian soldiers, who have been stationed in the Maldives mainly to operate helicopters for rescue and reconnaissance, was conveyed at a meeting between senior officials from the two sides on Sunday in Male.

The demand followed a visit by President Mohamed Muizzu to China, sharpening a rivalry between New Delhi and Beijing, which have both been vying for influence over the Maldives.

Maldives’ President-elect Mohamed Muizzu speaks to supporters following the country’s presidential election, in Male on October 2. Muizzu had campaigned on the election plank of altering the nation’s “India First” policy. Photo: AFP

New Maldivian leader Muizzu had campaigned on the election plank of altering the nation’s “India First” policy. In September, he defeated his predecessor Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, whom he accused of allowing India to hold sway over the island nation.

“This demand [for withdrawal of troops] has been part of Muizzu’s election campaign,” said Manoj Joshi, a distinguished fellow at the Observer Research Foundation. “Certainly, the tourism issue has worsened the diplomatic climate, and maybe they could have worked out some compromise.”

Indian tourists started cancelling visits this year to the Maldives after a social media call to boycott the island went viral in the world’s most populous country following disparaging remarks made about Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The controversy erupted after three Maldivian ministers – Malsha Shareef, Mariyam Shiuna and Abdulla Mahzoom Majid – called Modi a “clown”, “terrorist” and “puppet of Israel” in reference to India’s support of Israel in the Israel-Gaza war.