Male: President Mohamed Muizzu has chosen to withdraw from a 2019 agreement for collaboration in the subject of hydrology between the Indian Navy and Maldives National Defence Force. Prior to this, he had ordered India to remove its military forces from the Maldives. Male informed India that it had decided to revoke the contract that had been inked in June 2019 during PM Narendra Modi's visit to the nation.
The agreement allowed the Indian Navy to carry out hydrographic surveys in Maldives to help improve navigation safety, economic development, security and defence cooperation, environmental protection, coastal zone management and research. The navy had so far carried out three such surveys under the agreement that Muizzu’s predecessor Ibrahim Solih signed with India.
“In the future, hydrography works will be carried out under 100% Maldivian management, and with only Maldivians privy to the information,” said a senior official of the President’s office, adding that the government will review “secret agreements” signed by the previous administration that endangered Maldives’ independence and sovereignty.
Muizzu has remained intent on driving out Indian military personnel, who are involved in operating and maintaining the two naval choppers and a Dornier aircraft India had gifted to Male, even though Indian government sources claim that during their meeting with Modi in Dubal on the fringes of COP28, the President acknowledged the value of Indian "platforms" that are involved in disaster relief and humanitarian assistance.