India has successfully withdrawn all its military personnel from the Maldives, meeting the May 10 deadline set by President Mohamed Muizzu. This move comes as a fulfillment of a key campaign promise made by the pro-China leader during his presidential campaign last year.

Heena Waleed, Chief Spokesperson of the President’s Office, confirmed the completion of the withdrawal, stating that the final batch of Indian soldiers stationed in the Maldives has been repatriated. While the exact number of personnel withdrawn has not been disclosed, it was earlier reported that 51 soldiers were repatriated on Monday, out of a total of 89 stationed in the Maldives.

The Indian military personnel were stationed in the Maldives to operate and maintain two helicopters and a Dornier aircraft, which were gifted by India earlier. The withdrawal process was carried out in accordance with an agreement between India and the Maldives.

The withdrawal of Indian troops marks a significant development in bilateral relations between India and the Maldives, which had come under strain due to President Muizzu’s insistence on the withdrawal of Indian military personnel operating in the island nation. However, during a recent meeting between Maldivian Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer and Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, extensive discussions were held on bilateral ties and regional security issues.

In his remarks during the meeting, Minister Jaishankar emphasized the importance of mutual interests and reciprocal sensitivity in the development of ties between India and the Maldives. He reiterated India’s commitment to its ‘Neighbourhood First Policy’ and the ‘SAGAR’ initiative, highlighting the special relationship between the two maritime neighbors in the Indian Ocean Region.