What's happened
Newly elected Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu requests India to withdraw its military personnel from the archipelago, pledging to reduce the country's dependence on India amid China's growing influence.
Why it matters
The request by the newly elected president to withdraw Indian military personnel and reduce dependence on India amid China's growing influence has significant geopolitical implications for the region.
What the papers say
South China Morning Post reports that Muizzu campaigned on a promise to evict Indian military personnel and balance trade, while Gulf News highlights the tension between India and China's influence in the Maldives. AP News provides details on the request made by President Muizzu to India to withdraw its military personnel from the archipelago.
How we got here
The election of President Mohamed Muizzu in September was seen as a virtual referendum on which regional power - China or India - should have the biggest influence in the Indian Ocean archipelago.
More on these topics
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India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the second-most populous country, the seventh-largest country by land area, and the most populous democracy in the world.
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Mohamed Muizzu is a Maldivian politician who is currently serving as president of the Maldives since 17 November 2023. He was selected for his party's nomination after former president Abdulla Yameen was jailed for serious corruption charges.
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The Maldives, officially the Republic of Maldives, is a small island nation in South Asia, situated in the Arabian Sea of the Indian Ocean. It lies southwest of Sri Lanka and India, about 700 kilometres from the Asian continent's mainland. The chain of 26
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China, officially the People's Republic of China, is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population of around 1.4 billion in 2019.