NEW DELHI, Dec 3 (Reuters) – India’s authorities has agreed to withdraw its troopers from the Maldives, the Indian Ocean archipelago’s President Mohamed Muizzu stated on Sunday.

Muizzu received the presidential election in September, having campaigned to change the Maldives’s “India first” coverage and promising elimination of a small Indian army presence of some 75 personnel.

“In the discussions we had, the Indian government has agreed to remove Indian soldiers,” Muizzu informed reporters. “We also agreed to set up a high level committee to solve issues related to development projects.”

Muizzu made the remarks following engagements on the sidelines of the COP28 local weather summit with Indian officers.

India’s ministry of international affairs didn’t instantly reply to a request for touch upon Sunday.

India and China have been vying for affect within the area, with the coalition that helps Muizzu thought-about to have a leaning extra in the direction of China.

Most of the Indian army personnel have been within the Maldives to function and handle two helicopters and a Dornier plane given to the Maldives by India.

India gives sure army tools to the Maldives, assists in catastrophe response and has been serving to construct a naval dockyard there.

At his inauguration final month, Muizzu said he would be sure that his nation has no international army presence.

He had made the request of Indian troop withdrawal to Kiren Rijiju, India’s minister for earth sciences, who represented India on the president’s inauguration.

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