{"id":56660,"date":"2024-02-05T18:02:02","date_gmt":"2024-02-05T18:02:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/maldives-vows-to-boost-defences-after-telling-indian-troops-to-leave\/"},"modified":"2024-02-05T18:02:02","modified_gmt":"2024-02-05T18:02:02","slug":"maldives-vows-to-boost-defences-after-telling-indian-troops-to-leave","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/maldives-vows-to-boost-defences-after-telling-indian-troops-to-leave\/","title":{"rendered":"Maldives vows to boost defences after telling Indian troops to leave"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The small but strategically placed Maldives will strengthen its military to defend its vast maritime territory, the new president vowed on Monday after ordering Indian troops to withdraw from the archipelago.<\/p>\n

Mohamed Muizzu said in his first address to parliament he would turn the modest Maldivian National Defence Force (MNDF) into a modern military capable of patrolling its seas, which straddle key global shipping lanes.<\/p>\n

The pro-China leader reiterated that India will begin withdrawing its troops<\/a> operating three maritime reconnaissance aircraft from March 10 and complete the process within two months.<\/p>\n

New Delhi considers the Indian Ocean archipelago to be within its sphere of influence.<\/p>\n

However, the Maldives has shifted into the orbit of China \u2014 its largest external creditor \u2014 with September\u2019s election of Muizzu, who demanded the Indian troops leave.<\/p>\n

\u201cI believe that the modern military capability to defend the country by road, sea and air should be strengthened in the Maldives,\u201d Muizzu said. \u201cWe have started to do that now.\u201d<\/p>\n

He said the MNDF will soon be able to conduct surveillance of the country\u2019s 900,000 square kilometre (347,000 square mile) Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) around the clock.<\/p>\n

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