The Maldives has agreed to provide “military assistance” to China after ordering Indian troops to leave the small but strategically positioned archipelago, according to officials on Tuesday ( Mar 5 ).
After being originally expelled by pro-China President Mohamed Muizzu, who came to power last year on an anti-Indian platform, some 89 American military personnel will remain gone by May 10.
The Malay defense government announced late on Monday that they had signed an “agreement on China’s provision of defense assistance,” calling it “gratis” or “without transaction or charge,” but without providing further details.
In a post on social media platform X, the defense ministry stated that the agreement was intended to develop” stronger diplomatic relationships.”
India is wary of China’s growing reputation in the Indian Ocean and its impact on the Islands, a chain of 1,192 small coastal islands that stretches 800 kilometers across the sun as well as in neighboring Sri Lanka.
Both islands in South Asia are strategically located way along important east-west global shipping routes.
Since Muizzu won the elections in September, ties between Man and New Delhi have cooled.
Although New Delhi believes that the Indian Ocean archipelago is within its purview, the Islands have moved into China’s largest outside creditor’s circle.
Muizzu has previously denied attempting to redesign the local stability by bringing in Chinese forces to exchange Indian troops. He traveled to Beijing in January where he signed a number of agreements in those areas: infrastructure, energy, sea, and agriculture.