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For those of you who have no idea what is going on with indian military presence in Maldives and #indiaout hashtags, i'll summarise the past 10 years here.
In 2010, during the time of president Mohamed Nasheed, it was agreed to bring 2 helicopters from India 1/8
For those of you who have no idea what is going on with indian military presence in Maldives and #indiaout hashtags, i'll summarise the past 10 years here.
In 2010, during the time of president Mohamed Nasheed, it was agreed to bring 2 helicopters from India 1/8
to Maldives as a "gift" to MNDF. 20 military personals from India were brought with each to operate them. It was said back then in news sources that indian military personals will stay here UNTIL Maldivians are trained to operate them. President Waheed and president Yameen 2/8
also renewed the agreements.
Fast foward to 2017, there was a news during Oct 2017, that a Maldivian pilot would complete training and be ready to operate them in one month. 2018 happened yet the helicopters were still under full operation by Indian military. 3/8
Fast foward to 2017, there was a news during Oct 2017, that a Maldivian pilot would complete training and be ready to operate them in one month. 2018 happened yet the helicopters were still under full operation by Indian military. 3/8
Then in 2018, president Yameen decided to not renew the agreements and not renew visas for the military personals and send them away. The helicopters were not taken away though, they refused to go back, regime changed. President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih came to power 4/8
IMS renewed the agreements. This time the terms of conditions were not disclosed to the media.
In 2019, indian coastguard tweeted saying an indian helicopter is operaring in Maldives. The tweet was later deleted. The opposition started pressuring the issue then. 5/8
In 2019, indian coastguard tweeted saying an indian helicopter is operaring in Maldives. The tweet was later deleted. The opposition started pressuring the issue then. 5/8
Even now the two helicopters are being operated by indian military personals (one in Laamu, the other in Addu). they report to high comission of india. On top of that a new military aircraft (Donier-228) is being brought to Hanimadhoo, with more indian military personals. 6/8
Unlike in 2010, or in 2017, it is no longer being said that Maldivians military will get to operate any of these. So it is for sure that indian military presence in increasing day by day here.
What i wrote here is all i could gather from news articles from 2010 till today. 7/8
What i wrote here is all i could gather from news articles from 2010 till today. 7/8
Upto you to be concerned. I definitely am.
We do not need external military in Maldives, be it from India or China. That is why i say #indiaout 8/8
We do not need external military in Maldives, be it from India or China. That is why i say #indiaout 8/8
