The Maldives announced on Tuesday (May 6, 2025) that existing defence agreements with India are being amended to ensure they do not compromise the Maldives’ sovereignty and independence, according to media reports in Male.
Defence Minister Mohamed Ghassan Maumoon informed Parliament members that 74 Indian soldiers stationed in the Maldives, who were repatriated under an agreement reached with India last year, were unarmed while in the Maldives.
Mr. Maumoon’s statements came after Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu stated during a 15-hour press conference that there is no need to worry about agreements signed by the previous government with other countries, including India.
Mr. Muizzu’s comments were criticized by the opposition leader, who demanded an apology for making false claims during the 2023 election campaign regarding the pacts with nations such as India.
On Tuesday (May 6, 2025), Mr. Maumoon addressed questions from Parliament members, stating that agreements with India are being amended to protect the sovereignty and independence of the Maldives, as reported by newsportal edition.mv.
The state-run news agency Public Service Media (PSM News) quoted the Minister as saying that since gaining independence in 1965, over 100 agreements were signed with India, with the Defence Ministry overseeing four of them.
One of the agreements under review is related to the development of a naval dockyard at Uthuru Thilafalhu with Indian assistance, as reported by PSM News.
The Minister mentioned that clauses in these agreements are being amended, but did not provide further details, according to edition.mv.
Due to confidentiality clauses, the Minister stated that the agreements and their amendments could not be made public, but he would disclose them if requested formally by the parliament’s Committee on National Security Services.
Bilateral ties between the Maldives and India saw a decline after President Muizzu, who is pro-China, took office in November 2023. He immediately called for the withdrawal of Indian military personnel from the country.
Subsequently, the Indian military personnel were replaced by civilians in a mutually agreed manner between March and May 10.
On Tuesday, Defence Minister Maumoon confirmed that there were currently no Indian forces stationed in the Maldives.
“Of the 71 Indian personnel previously deployed, all have been repatriated following bilateral discussions, with the final contingent departing on 9 May 2024. Indian soldiers had not carried weapons while stationed in the Maldives,” stated the Minister as quoted by PSM News.
The Minister clarified that Indian military presence was limited to providing operational support for Dornier aircraft and helicopters under India’s assistance program, emphasizing that the withdrawal was necessary to safeguard national sovereignty.
Earlier on Saturday (May 3, 2025), President Muizzu stated during his press conference that he was working to disclose military agreements in line with his pledge, attributing delays to confidentiality issues.
Prior to the 2023 elections, Muizzu’s party had expressed concerns about agreements signed with other countries, especially India, by the previous Maldivian Democratic Party government.
Following this, former Foreign Minister and opposition MDP chief Abdulla Shahid criticized President Muizzu, calling for an apology to the people of the Maldives and India for false claims made during the 2023 election campaign.
The Maldives is a key maritime neighbor of India in the Indian Ocean Region, playing a significant role in India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy and Vision ‘SAGAR’ (Security and Growth for All in the Region).
After External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s first official visit in June 2024 and President Muizzu’s visit to India in October 2024, efforts have been made to reset ties between the two nations.
Published – May 06, 2025 06:33 pm IST
