Diplomatic Breakthrough: Maldives Find Common Ground After India Reduces Aid

In the national capital, discussions were held between the two countries to determine whether Indian troops would be relocated from the Maldives.

New Delhi stated that a set of mutually workable solutions had been agreed upon, without mentioning the withdrawal of troops.

Photo Credit: PTI

India Reduces Aid To Male

A reduced aid for Maldives has been announced by the Indian government amid strained relations. The allocation, part of the developmental assistance for the Maldives for the financial year 2024-25, is set at ₹600 crores, higher than the previous year's allocation but 22 per cent less than the actual expenditure incurred by New Delhi on Male.

The reduction in aid follows derogatory remarks made by now-suspended ministers in the Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu's government.

Diplomatic Breakthrough Between India and Maldives

It was claimed by the Maldives that the Indian troops would be "replaced" by May. "During the meeting, discussions on a wide range of issues related to bilateral cooperation continued, focusing on identifying steps to enhance the partnership and expediting the implementation of ongoing development cooperation projects," stated the Ministry of External Affairs in a release.

"A set of mutually workable solutions to enable the continued operation of Indian aviation platforms providing humanitarian and medevac services (medical evacuation) to the people of the Maldives were also agreed upon by both sides," added the Ministry.

India has a deployment of nearly 100 personnel, including medical staff, to operate three aircraft for patrolling the archipelago's vast maritime territory.

"It was agreed by both sides that the military personnel in one of the three aviation platforms would be replaced by the Government of India by March 10, and the replacement of military personnel in the other two platforms would be completed by May 10," stated the Maldivian foreign ministry today in a statement after the meeting.

The decision to establish the core group was made following a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Muizzu on the sidelines of the COP28 summit in Dubai in December. Upon his return from his first state visit to China in January, the President told India to withdraw its troops by March 15.