This engagement was part of the prestigious “Dean’s Leadership Series" of Princeton University.
Maldives has no issues with India, but the people of Maldives do not want any foreign military presence in the country, said President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu recently.
Speaking at Princeton University during his ongoing trip to the USA to participate in the United Nations (UN) General Assembly, President Muizzu detailed that the issue was a foreign military presence in the country.
As pledged during his presidential election campaign, India's troops left the country earlier this year, with civilians now replacing the tasks previously undertaken by the soldiers.
Acknowledging that the 77 officers stationed in Maldives at the time was not a large number, the president said Maldivians would not accept even one foreign military officer being stationed in the country.
"Even one foreign military personnel in Maldives is not something the Maldivian people accept. But being them coming from India doesn't mean we're against India," he said adding that had the officers been from any other country, the objection would still have been the same.
However, diplomatic efforts between both countries have since seen the Indian officers return back and being replaced with civilians who now continue their work, such as operating helicopters, he said.
The President visited Princeton University at the invitation of Dean Amaney A. Jamal, the Edwards S. Sanford Professor of Politics and International Affairs at the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs. This engagement was part of the prestigious “Dean’s Leadership Series.”
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