Defence agreements with India being amended, says Maldives

THE Maldives on Tuesday said existing defence agreements with India are being amended to ensure they do not compromise the Maldives’ sovereignty and independence, media reports said here.

- 

Defence Minister Mohamed Ghassan Maumoon also told Parliament members that 74 Indian soldiers sta-tioned in the Maldives, who were repatriated under an agreement reached with India last year, were unarmed while in the Maldives.

Maumoon's statements come days after Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu, during a marathon 15 hour press conference, said that there is nothing to worry about the agreements signed by the previous government with other countries, including with India.

Muizzu's comments had drawn criticism from the opposition leader who demanded his apology for making “false claims” during the 2023 election campaign regarding the pacts with nations such as India.