Parliament approval to require for foreign military presence

The current administration is planning to propose an amendment to the Maldives Constitution to facilitate parliamentary approval for foreign military presence.

A member of the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) on the condition of anonymity confirmed this to ‘Sun’ Online, who said the government is expected to propose the amendment during Wednesday’s parliamentary sitting.

As per the current constitution, foreign military presence does not require approval from the parliament but for the establishment of foreign military bases.

Former president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom led the ‘India Out’ campaign calling for the withdrawal of Indian troops who were stationed in the Maldives to operate two helicopters and a Dornier aircraft – all gifted by the Indian government. The campaign was launched during the former government led by Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).

Withdrawal of Indian troops from the Maldives was among the key campaign pledges of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu. After assumption of office, Dr. Muizzu led a successful effort in withdrawing Indian soldiers from the Maldives, the first batch of which, had flown back to home country in early March this year, while the second back returned in April.

While the government announced a total of 51 Indian soldiers returned home in April, the third and final batch of them returned in May.

Presence of Indian soldiers in the Maldives was the highlight of the current ruling PNC in its political and campaign efforts as the then opposition. As the president-elect then, Dr. Muizzu affirmed the Maldivian public his efforts of deporting the troops from the first day of assuming office.

Following the high-level discussions between the Maldives and India, the latter’s External Affairs Ministry earlier on January 8^th announced New Delhi will dispatch civilian technical professionals instead of the soldiers to operate the helicopters and the aircraft.