India completes troop exit from Maldives

NEW DELHI: India has replaced some 80 soldiers on the Maldives with civilians after a demand by President Mohamed Muizzu who has pivoted the archipelago’s ties towards China, New Delhi officials said on Thursday.

The Indian troops supported two helicopters and an aircraft that were given by New Delhi and mainly used for marine surveillance, search-and-rescue and medical evacuation operations on the islands of about half a million people.

“Both sides have been working together to ensure continued operation of Indian aviation platforms,” India’s foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said. “Accordingly, deputation of competent Indian technical personnel has taken place.”