Male, Maldives: In a momentous address following his victory in the runoff election, President-elect Mohamed Muizzu has made a resolute pledge to reevaluate and potentially diminish foreign military presence in the strategically positioned atoll nation of the Maldives. Though Muizzu refrained from explicitly mentioning India, it is a conspicuous reference to the sole foreign military deployment in the Maldives.
Muizzu, aged 45, delivered his proclamation during his first public rally after clinching victory. He stated, “We will be sending back military forces based in the Maldives according to law, and for sure we will do that accordingly,” at the rally held in the capital city, Male, on Monday night.
He underscored the decision as a reflection of the Maldivian people’s will, saying, “The people who brought… military forces don’t want to send them back, but the people of the Maldives decided.”
Outgoing President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih had recalibrated the nation’s relations, aligning them with the traditional benefactor, India, after his predecessor, Abdulla Yameen, had shifted the Maldives towards China, securing substantial loans for infrastructure projects.
Muizzu is regarded as a proxy for Yameen, who was disqualified from last month’s election due to a criminal conviction for corruption. Notably, within hours of his victory, Muizzu orchestrated the release of Yameen, who had been serving an 11-year prison sentence at the high-security Maafushi prison, relocating him to house arrest in Male.
Muizzu, the current Mayor of Male, brushed aside media characterizations of him as a pro-China leader, asserting his unwavering focus on being “pro-Maldives.” He proclaimed, “My top priority will be the Maldives and its situation. We will be choosing to be pro-Maldives. Any country who respects and obeys our pro-Maldives policy is considered a close friend of the Maldives.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was among the first leaders to extend congratulations to Muizzu on Sunday, reaffirming India’s commitment to fortifying the enduring India-Maldives bilateral relationship.
China also congratulated Muizzu, expressing respect for the Maldivian people’s choice. Beijing’s foreign ministry conveyed its willingness to work alongside the Maldives to reinforce traditional friendship and expand mutually beneficial cooperation.
The Maldives, an archipelago stretching 800 kilometers (500 miles) across the equator and renowned for its upscale beach resorts, straddles one of the world’s busiest east-west shipping lanes.
Muizzu, during a meeting with Chinese Communist Party officials last year, conveyed that his party’s return to power would mark the initiation of a new era of robust relations between the Maldives and China.
By AFP
