Yameen says his govt failed to remove Indian military personnel

Former President Abdulla Yameen has said his administration was unable to remove Indian military personnel from the Maldives, despite attempts to do so.

Speaking at a gathering held at the People's National Front (PNF) office on Thursday night, Yameen said removing the personnel was an objective that his government did not achieve.

Indian military personnel were stationed in the Maldives to operate and maintain aviation assets provided by the Indian government.

The first helicopter was brought to the Maldives during the administration of former President Mohamed Nasheed under an agreement that allowed Indian military personnel to operate the aircraft.

During Yameen's administration, a second helicopter arrived with additional Indian military personnel. Yameen said his government later requested the withdrawal of those personnel after India declined a request to train Maldivian pilots.

During the administration of former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, the agreements were renewed and India deployed a Dornier aircraft along with additional personnel.

Removing the Indian military personnel was one of President Dr Mohamed Muizzu's campaign pledges. The current administration later reached an agreement with India under which the 77 Indian military personnel operating the aircraft were replaced by civilian technical staff.

Yameen said that during his presidency, current President Muizzu and current MP Ahmed Azan were among those calling for the removal of Indian military personnel.

He claimed that the current administration had accepted the continued presence of Indian personnel in civilian roles.

Yameen also referred to the arrival of Indian troops in the Maldives in 1988 following an attempted coup, saying they were invited by the administration of former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom to assist the government.

He said the Indian forces were withdrawn after the situation had stabilised.

According to Yameen, the Maldives' relationship with India changed during the administration of former President Mohamed Nasheed.

"President Maumoon used strategic wisdom to slowly remove Indian troops from here. Then, under President Nasheed's government, the country completely leaned into India. Since then, every successive administration has witnessed India strengthening its military footprint in the Maldives," Yameen said.

"Even during President Yameen's administration, completely removing them was something we failed to achieve."

Yameen also criticised both the former Solih administration and the current Muizzu administration over their handling of relations with India.

He further said that if the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) seeks to return to government, it should consider what he described as issues relating to the country's sovereignty.