Inauguration of Indian base near Maldives amid tension

 

India has inaugurated a military naval base on a "strategically important" island near the island nation of Maldives, days before the start of Indian troop withdrawal. New Delhi launched the new base on Minicoy Island in the Indian Ocean on Wednesday amid heightened tensions with the Maldives.

 

Last year, MohamedMuijju, a well-known pro-China politician in the Maldives, campaigned for president promising to expel members of the Indian military from the country. He was elected president in November with massive public support due to his anti-India stance in the elections. Bilateral relations between India and Maldives took a serious turn after Muijju was elected president.

 

Soon after his election, Muijju gave an ultimatum to New Delhi to withdraw 89 Indian soldiers and security personnel stationed in the Maldives. Later, a high-level delegation meeting of the two countries was also held in this regard. According to the decision of that meeting, the first batch of Indian troops will leave Maldives by March 10. Apart from this, the rest of the troops are scheduled to leave the Maldives within the next two months.

 

India is growing concerned about China's growing presence in the Maldives. Because the east-west international shipping routes are adjacent to this island nation. The new base will expand New Delhi's surveillance in the region.

 

Maldives has traditionally had close ties with India. However, the Maldives has been leaning towards Beijing since the election of Mohammad Muijju as president, promising to end this pro-India stance.

 

About 130 km to the north of Maldives lies the Indian Lakshadweep Islands. A new naval base has been established on Minicoy Island there; Which is the closest point to Maldives. The region is crucial to New Delhi for securing maritime traffic in the Indian Ocean. The newly established base will help New Delhi's surveillance efforts in the region.

 

In a statement on Wednesday, the Indian Navy said, “The Minikoy Island base will strengthen their foothold in Lakshadweep. It will also expand military capabilities, capabilities, and surveillance in the region.

 

The Indian Navy, however, has also deployed a new squadron of US-made MH-60R "Seahawk" helicopters at Kochi on the country's west coast. "This unit will upgrade our sea reconnaissance and hostile to submarine fighting abilities," the assertion said. " Malay has consented to another arrangement to get military help from Beijing, building solid reciprocal ties," the Maldives Protection Service declared in a post via web-based entertainment stage X on Monday.

 

Meanwhile, US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said the US is monitoring the Maldives' new deal with Washington's main strategic rival. He called Maldives a "valuable partner". The US spokesperson also commented that the US is looking forward to continue working with the country.