Already at an all-time low, bilateral relations between India and the Maldives have taken another nosedive since Male formally requested that Delhi remove its forces from the archipelago by March 15th.
The demand was communicated during the inaugural gathering of a high-level core group between the two factions, which took place on Sunday in Male, the capital of the Maldives.
Militant from India is not permitted to remain in the Maldives. "This is the stance of the current administration," stated Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim, the secretary of public policy in the office of President Mohamed Muizzu.
Delhi claims that approximately eighty Indian troops are stationed in the Maldives to operate and sustain two rescue and reconnaissance helicopters as well as a Dornier aircraft that India donated several years ago.
New Maldives leader: Indian forces must withdraw.
It was Mr. Muizzu's election pledge to withdraw Indian military personnel from the island nation upon assuming power in mid-November. His campaign was built around the 'India out' policy, which pledged to withdraw Indian troops from the region and diminish the influence of Delhi.
The two countries' officials reportedly discussed "finding mutually workable solutions to enable the continued operation of Indian aviation platforms that provide humanitarian aid and medvac [medical evacuation] services to the people of Maldives" on Sunday, according to Delhi.
However, the Indian foreign ministry's statement made no mention of a withdrawal schedule for its troops from the islands.
A day after Mr. Muizzu returned from a state visit to China, during which he met with President Xi Jinping and other high-ranking officials, the Maldives and India engaged in a meeting. Male and Beijing reached an agreement to transform their bilateral ties into a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.
A dispute had arisen between India and the Maldives prior to Mr. Muizzu's travel, following which three deputy ministers from the Maldives posted derogatory remarks about Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on social media. Amidst a public outcry, the three ministers were placed on suspension.
However, upon his return from Beijing, Mr. Muizzu addressed a press conference in an impudent tone.
In an effort to lessen the Maldives' reliance on India, he stated that the nation would diversify its food imports and healthcare services abroad.
Mr. Muizzu further declared intentions to procure provisions of food and medication from Turkey, Europe, and the United States, while permitting Maldivians who met the eligibility criteria of a state health insurance program to seek medical treatment in Dubai and Thailand. The majority of travelers currently visit India and Sri Lanka.
"Our nation does not exist in the vicinity of another nation's backyard." He further stated, "We are an independent nation."
In his concluding remarks, Mr. Muizzu stated, "Our modest size does not grant you permission to intimidate us."
This was perceived as a reaction to the enormous backlash on social media platforms in India following the deputy ministers' controversial remarks about Mr. Modi. A boycott of the Maldives was a prominent topic of discussion on Indian social media platforms for the entirety of last week.
The 'boycott' of the Maldives by India is dissected by Maldivians.
According to analysts, these are arguably the most forceful remarks Mr. Muizzu has made since assuming office, suggesting a foreign policy trajectory that is not centered on India.
Azim Zahir, a Maldivian political analyst, told the BBC that if Male is aiming for a diplomatic resolution to the current dispute with Delhi, it would be counterproductive for the president to publicly implicate the Maldives' closest bilateral partner in such remarks.
According to him, such remarks "could irreparably harm relations between India and the Maldives."
Numerous Maldivians consider Mr. Muizzu's proposals to decrease reliance on India for food and medication imports to be impracticable.
"Food from any country in the world, including Turkey, is permissible." Is it economical, however? "The cost of transportation will surpass that of importing food from India," Democratic Party senior leader Ali Azim told the BBC.
Furthermore, he stated that Mr. Muizzu was attempting to incite "anti-India sentiments" in advance of the March parliamentary elections.
Mr. Muizzu is also adopting a tough posture toward Delhi, according to Maldivian experts, because he is cognizant of the fact that Islamist extremists, such as the ultraconservative Salafis, in the nation endorse his stance.
At a time when proponents of the Indian government have been emphasizing India's "muscular foreign policy" and its emergence as an economic and military power, the latest dispute has caused concern in Delhi.
S Jaishankar, the foreign minister of India, nevertheless, reacted calmly to the ongoing diplomatic dispute with Male.
"Politics remains political." "I cannot guarantee that everyone will support or agree with us on a daily basis, in every country," he told a gathering on Sunday in the Indian city of Nagpur.
The Maldives, being a small island nation, relies heavily on its enormous neighbor India for provisions, infrastructure development, and healthcare.
While concerned about Delhi's response to the ongoing diplomatic dispute, several Male residents are resentful of India's "overbearing presence" in the archipelago, according to several.
The political analyst, Mr. Zahir, stated, "I believe there is an increased risk of a serious dispute between Delhi and Male if India does not make some concessions."
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