India has recently set up a naval base at Lakshadweep near Maldives. They have added naval forces as well as air forces to increase the strength there. India is increasing surveillance in the entire Indian Ocean. In the meantime, Maldives has joined hands with China as well as Turkey as a countermeasure. Besides buying ammunition from China, they are also buying drones from Turkey to increase their power.
Relations between Delhi and Male have cooled ever since Muijju was elected as the President of Maldives. The relationship between the two countries has further deteriorated.
Meanwhile, the deadline set for the first phase of withdrawal of Indian troops from the Maldives begins on Sunday. The pro-Chinese president of the Maldives, Mohammed Muijju, has set a deadline of March 10 to withdraw the 89 Indian troops by next May. In this situation, India is increasing the army at the naval base in Laksha Island. This island is only 524 km away from Maldives.
