Maldives Asks India To Withdraw Military Presence

The announcement was made by the office of newly elected Maldives president Mohamed Muizzu.

A day after he was sworn in, the office of Maldives president Mohamed Muizzu on Saturday announced that the government has officially asked India to withdraw its military presence from the country. 

The announcement said Mr Muizzu formally made the request when he met Union Minister Kiren Rijiju at the President's Office earlier in the day. Mr Rijiju, who is the minister of earth sciences, was in the country to attend the swearing-in ceremony.

India has around 70 soldiers in the Maldives, manning radars and surveillance aircraft