COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu formally requested India to withdraw its navy personnel from the archipelago on Saturday, a day after being sworn in.

The president’s workplace stated in a press release that Muizzu made the request when he met Kiren Rijiju, India’s minister for earth sciences. He was within the Maldives for the presidential inauguration.

“The president noted that at the presidential election held in September, the Maldivian people had given him a strong mandate to make the request to India and expressed hope that India will honour the democratic will of the people of the Maldives,” the assertion stated.

Muizzu, who’s seen as pro-China, campaigned on a promise to evict Indian navy personnel and steadiness commerce, which he stated was closely in favor of India underneath his predecessor, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.

The election was seen a digital referendum on which regional energy — China or India — ought to have the largest affect within the Indian Ocean archipelago. Both India, the closest neighbor of the Maldives, and China have been vying for affect within the islands positioned strategically on the delivery route connecting east and west.

The variety of Indian troops within the Maldives shouldn’t be publicly identified. Critics say secrecy within the settlement between India and Solih’s authorities concerning the function and variety of Indian navy personnel has led to suspicion and rumors. The Indian navy is thought to function two Indian-donated helicopters and helping in search and rescue operations for folks stranded or going through calamities at sea.

The Maldives’ minister for strategic communications, Ibrahim Khaleel, instructed The Associated Press that the president himself should discover out the variety of Indian troops from officers after the weekend.

He stated the discussions occurred in a cordial method and the Maldives was hopeful that the withdrawal will happen quickly.

Muizz’s ally, former President Abdulla Yameen, made the Maldives a part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative throughout his presidency from 2013 to 2018. The improvement initiative is supposed to construct railroads, ports and highways to develop commerce — and China’s affect — throughout Asia, Africa and Europe.