Project Sharp Sword The Maldives' defence ministry said on Monday that it had signed a military agreement with China that would promote "stronger bilateral relations."
Details of the assistance have not yet been released.
The move is part of Moizu's push to develop closer ties with China since he took office last November, after his "India Out" campaign pledged to withdraw Indian troops from Maldivian territory and reaffirm "lost" national sovereignty. In January, Moizu set a deadline of March 15 for the complete withdrawal of Indian military personnel stationed in the archipelago country, according to the ** office. An update from his office last month said negotiations had agreed that the troops would be withdrawn in phases, with the first to be withdrawn by 10 March and the rest by 10 May.
According to Reuters, there are 77 Indian soldiers and 12 Indian armed forces medical personnel in the Maldives. According to Reuters, India has also provided the Maldives with two *** and one Dornier aircraft, mainly for maritime surveillance, search and rescue operations and medical evacuation.
The new agreement with China marks a major shift in Maldives' foreign policy with Muizou's pro-India predecessor, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.
This small South Asian country is internationally recognized as a tourist destination and is popular for its white sand beaches and turquoise lagoons. But the archipelago, which consists of nearly 1,200 low-lying coral islands with a population of less than half a million, is spread across strategically important waters and shipping lanes in the Indian Ocean.
Given the two countries' geographical proximity and strong historical and economic ties, India has been the Maldives' closest partner for decades, with New Delhi seeing the region as part of its traditional sphere of influence. But the Maldives has long been in the midst of a geopolitical struggle, with both India and China vying for influence.
China's footprint in the Maldives is expanding, most notably in large-scale infrastructure projects such as the US$200 million China-Malaysia Friendship Bridge.
In January, Muzou traveled to Beijing for a state visit, and the two countries signed 20 agreements, including cooperation on infrastructure, economy, green development, grants and other development projects.
During his visit, Moizu praised China as "one of the Maldives' closest allies and development partners."