The Ministry of Defense of the Maldives announced on social platforms that China and the Maldives signed a military aid agreement on March 4. The first formal military exchange between China and the Maldives was in September 2000, when the then Minister of National Defense and National Defense of the Maldives Sattar was invited to China for a friendly visit. In April of the following year, China and Malaysia signed their first military assistance agreement.
This time, the news of the signing of a military aid agreement between the two countries will be a little comfortable to watch in conjunction with the news that India is going to withdraw from the Maldives.
01 "Operation Cactus".
Archaeological India's "roots" in the Maldives can be traced back to a coup d'état.
In 1988, a coup d'état took place in the Maldives. At that time, Gayoom asked India to send troops to support. Overnight, India developed an emergency action plan codenamed "Cactus". The Il-76, An-32 and other transport aircraft carried India's 10th Special Paratrooper Commando Team to the Maldives.
After the reinforcements arrived at the international airport in Mare, "the commandos were divided into Mi-8*** patrols to destroy militants and mercenaries" and cooperated with the Maldivian *** troops. Two days later, control of the capital was regained, Gayoom was rescued, and the coup ended in failure.
It is precisely because of the "life-saving grace" of this support operation that Gayoom** regards India as a "friend in distress", and the two countries** are increasingly closely connected, and political, economic and military relations are comprehensively improved.
02 The door of life is in the hands of others
After the "Cactus" operation, Gayoom** and India had a fateful friendship. Since then, the Maldives has given India the task of military training for its own defence force personnel, and every year Maldivian soldiers go to India for military training. On 7 March 2005, the Maldives established the Office of the Defence Commissioner in the High Commission in India, which at that time was the only military establishment of the Maldives outside the country.
The Maldives does not have a defense industry, and the equipment is imported. India is one of its largest importers. India has been generous in its willingness to keep the Maldives close to its side. In 2001, Indian Defence Minister Fernandez visited the Maldives and agreed to donate advanced radar equipment and provide technical training to the Maldives. In 2009, India presented the Maldives Defence Force Coast Guard with a "luxury gift" - a 46-meter-long Indian Navy Trikkat-class fast attack boat, free of charge. Subsequently, India also donated to the construction of the Maldives Ministry of Defence building.
In August 2009, Indian Defense Minister Antony visited the Maldives and the two countries signed a military agreement: "The establishment of a ground-based radar network on 26 coral reef islands in the Maldives to achieve seamless coverage of ships and aircraft approaching the islands, the radar network is linked to the Indian military reconnaissance system, and the Indian coastal radar system is interconnected, under the full control of the Indian military; Established a permanent base in the Maldives; The Indian Coast Guard regularly sends aircraft into Maldivian airspace to conduct reconnaissance. "Judging from the content of this military agreement, it is not an exaggeration to say that India has taken the Maldives' life.
After all, it rejected the Soviet Union's request to lease the Gandao air base, the Soviet Union's proposal to provide "assistance," and the United States' request to establish a military base in Addu Atoll. When he arrived in India, he could "entrust his family and his life".
03 The wind has changed
In September 2023, the new Maldives **, Muiz defeated his opponent and was elected as the new **. After taking office, Muiz first visited Turkey, breaking the political convention of the Maldives, that is, after the inauguration of successive **, India will be the first stop of the foreign trip. Earlier this year, he went to China before visiting India.
The day after Muiz officially took office, he set out to fulfill his political promise and formally demanded that India withdraw its troops on the grounds of "violating the sovereignty of the Maldives".
If all goes well, Indian troops should withdraw from the Maldives by 10 May. Can it be said that from 1988 to 2024, the Maldives has finally taken an important step on the way to see off the "great god" of India?