In his first address to the Maldivian Parliament, President Mohamed Muizzu reiterated his government’s commitment to fulfill the promises made during his election campaign. These promises included the removal of foreign troops from the Maldives, the recovery of lost territory, and the cancellation of agreements deemed harmful to the country’s sovereignty.
President Muizzu highlighted the mandate given to his government by the Maldivian people, emphasizing their support for the removal of foreign soldiers, specifically referring to the presence of unarmed Bharat military personnel in the country. He also stressed the need to recover territory lost from Maldivian waters and to cancel agreements that could compromise the nation’s sovereignty.
Despite the significance of his address, it was attended by only 24 lawmakers out of the 87-member House, as the top two Opposition parties boycotted the session. The Opposition parties expressed opposition to Muizzu’s perceived “anti-India” stance and hold a majority in the Parliament.
President Muizzu announced a phased removal of the Bharat military personnel stationed in the Maldives, with the first group scheduled to depart on March 10 and the second group by May 10, 2024. This decision followed an agreement between India and the Maldives for a phased replacement of troops, although the details were not mentioned in the statement released by the Bharat Ministry of External Affairs.
The Bharat military personnel stationed in the Maldives were primarily involved in operating and maintaining helicopters and aircraft gifted to the Maldivian National Defence Forces, as well as providing training. These assets played a crucial role in conducting medical evacuations from various islands, saving hundreds of lives.
President Muizzu also announced the intention not to renew the current hydrographic agreement with Bharat, which allowed Bharat to study the territorial waters of the Maldives comprehensively. Additionally, he emphasized the need to enhance the patrolling capacity of the Maldivian armed forces in its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) to minimize Bharat’s role in this aspect.
Earlier in January, Maldives signed a $37 million deal with Turkey to purchase military drones for patrolling the high seas, signaling a shift in defense partnerships. This move comes amid strained ties between Bharat and the Maldives following disparaging remarks made against Prime Minister Narendra Modi by three deputy ministers, leading to calls for a boycott of tourism to Maldives by Bharat.
The boycott of Muizzu’s address by the Opposition parties reflects the ongoing political tensions within the Maldivian Parliament, with allegations of government overreach and undermining of parliamentary privileges. Despite these challenges, President Muizzu remains steadfast in his commitment to fulfill the promises made to the Maldivian people during his election campaign.
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