The Foreign Ministry said that the remaining military personnel stationed in the last of the three areas in Maldives will be withdrawn by May 10, and will be replaced by civilian experts.
The final batch of Indian military personnel will be leaving the Maldives on the agreed date, by May 10 according to senior officials of both countries.
Following the fourth meeting of the India-Maldives High Level Core Group held in New Delhi, the Maldives Foreign Ministry in a press conference said that the discussions held included the bilateral relations of both countries.
This included defence cooperation and development cooperation projects, the statement said.
The Foreign Ministry said that the remaining military personnel stationed in the last of the three areas in Maldives will be withdrawn by May 10, and will be replaced by civilian experts. The Ministry further stated that all logistical arrangements are proceeding as scheduled.
The Ministry also said that it has agreed to hold the fifth meeting of the High Level Core Group between the two countries in June or July.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Moosa Zameer is scheduled to visit India on an official trip on May 9. This marks the first official visit by a senior head of state to India since President Dr Mohamed Muizzu was sworn in as President on November 17.
The withdrawal of Indian military personnel operating the Dornier aircraft and two helicopters gifted by the Indian government to Maldives, is a presidential pledge by Dr. Muizzu. Extensive discussions between the two countries have resulted in an agreement to replace Indian military personnel with Indian civilian experts to oversee the operation of these vehicles.
President Muizzu has earlier stated that the Indian civilians replacing Indian military personnel to operate the three aircrafts gifted by their government to Maldives are not coming to be stationed in Maldives permanently, and that they will only be based here for a specific period of time.
The first batch of Indian military personnel were withdrawn from Maldives during early March followed by the departure of the second batch in April.
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