Maldivian Defence Minister Mohamed Ghassan Maumoon and Deputy Director of the Office for International Military Cooperation of the People's Republic of China, Major General Zhang Baoqun inked a pact wherein China will offer military assistance to the Republic of the Maldives without charge, enhancing the bond between the two nations.
“Minister of Defence @mgmaumoon and Major General Zhang Baoqun, Deputy Director of the Office for International Military Cooperation of the People's Republic of China, signed an agreement on China's provision of military assistance gratis to the Republic of Maldives, fostering stronger bilateral ties” announced the Ministry of Defence on X (Former Twitter) on Monday.
On Tuesday, Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu announced that starting from May 10, no Indian military personnel, even those in civilian clothing, will be permitted within the borders of the Maldives.
Muizzu's announcement comes shortly after an Indian civilian team arrived in the Maldives to oversee one of the three aviation platforms. This occurred well before the jointly agreed-upon deadline of March 10 for the withdrawal of Indian military personnel, as reported by the media.
While addressing the residents of Eydhafushi in the Baa atoll during his tour of the region, the Maldivian President emphasized the government's success in removing Indian troops from the nation. He pointed out that there are some spreading misinformation in a bid to distort the situation.
“There will be no Indian troops in the country by May 10. Not in uniform and not in civilian clothing. The Indian military will not be residing in this country in any form of clothing. I state this with confidence," the Maldivian leader declared, on the same day his country agreed with China to receive complimentary military aid.
In the previous month, after a key meeting in Delhi on February 2, the Maldivian Foreign Ministry declared that India would be replacing its military personnel who were overseeing the three aviation platforms in the Maldives by May 10. The first phase of this transition was expected to be completed by March 10, in accordance with the agreement between the two countries.