President-elect Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has stated that one of his immediate priorities will be to initiate the process of removing foreign troops from the Maldives as soon as the first week of assuming office.
In an exclusive interview with Al Jazeera, President-elect Muizzu said that Maldivians do not want any foreign troops to be in the country, whether it is Indian or from any other nation. He noted that it was the main reason that the Maldivians voted not to elect the current administration for a second term. He said that he would hold discussions with the government of India in order to remove its military personnel from the Maldives as soon as possible.
Additionally, President-elect Muizzu said that he has met with the High Commissioner of India to the Maldives Munu Mahawar, and that he assured that the Indian government will work with his administration to remove Indian military personnel. When asked how soon the process would be initiated, President-elect Muizzu said that he would begin the process within the first week of his term, highlighting how serious the issue is to Maldivian sovereignty.
""We have been a very peaceful country for centuries and we never had any foreign troops in our soil. We are a very small nation that does not have a very big military setup, and any foreign troop seen in our soil, we don't see feel secure. So, we don't want any foreign troops to be here.''President-elect Muizzu.
Furthermore, President-elect Muizzu acknowledged the development assistance that India has provided to the Maldives but highlighted that his administration will promote a pro-Maldives policy that will not side with any particular country. He also noted that High Commissioner Mahawar has assured him that India is open to refinancing the debt taken by the Maldives.
Regarding his stance on China, President-elect Muizzu said that China has provided significant development assistance to the Maldives. He noted that China's policy with the Maldives and other countries is that they do not interfere with domestic issues or undermine sovereignty. He added that his administration wants mutually beneficial relationships with all countries that gain the maximum benefit for the Maldives.