Indian troops commence withdrawal from Maldives following orders from pro-China leader: Reports : Analysis

India has started pulling back its military personnel from the Maldives after the new pro-China president requested their departure. Reports indicate that 25 Indian soldiers stationed in Addu atoll have already left as part of a withdrawal agreement between the two countries. President Mohamed Muizzu, who took office in October, promised to remove Indian security personnel patrolling the Maldives’ maritime border. Talks with India resulted in an agreement to withdraw a total of 89 soldiers and support staff by May 10. The Maldives National Defence Force confirmed the beginning of the Indian withdrawal. Amidst the Indian exit, the Maldives signed a military assistance deal with China, prompting concerns from India about China’s expanding presence in the Indian Ocean and the Maldives, which is strategically located along international shipping routes. Relations between Male and New Delhi have cooled since Muizzu’s election, with the Maldives increasingly aligning with China, its largest external creditor. Muizzu has denied intentions to shift regional balance by bringing in Chinese forces. India recently inaugurated a new naval base on Lakshadweep to strengthen its naval presence in the strategically vital Indian Ocean region.

Analysis:
The article discusses India’s decision to withdraw its military personnel from the Maldives following a request from the new pro-China president. The sources of information are not explicitly mentioned, raising concerns about the credibility of the report. There might be biases in the portrayal of events, as the article highlights India’s concerns about China’s growing influence in the Indian Ocean without delving into possible reasons for the Maldives’ shifting alliances.

The geopolitical context provided in the article suggests that India and China are vying for influence in the region, with the Maldives caught in the middle. The article implies that the Maldives’ alignment with China could threaten India’s strategic interests, but a deeper analysis of the Maldives’ reasons for seeking closer ties with China would provide a more nuanced understanding.

Given the current political climate where disinformation and fake news are prevalent, readers should approach articles like this with caution. It is essential to verify information from multiple reliable sources and consider the potential biases that may be present in the reporting. The presentation of facts in this article may be influenced by the political landscape and the competitive dynamics between India and China in the region, which could impact the public’s perception of the situation in the Maldives.

Source: Aljazeera news: India troops begin Maldives pullout after pro-China leader’s order: Reports