Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu has said the surveillance of his country’s territory should not concern any “external parties” as he announced measures to boost its defence forces, including the maiden deployment of drones to guard the archipelagic nation in the Indian Ocean.
Mr. Muizzu's latest comments came while speaking at a ceremony to launch the Maldives National Defence Force's (MNDF) Air Corps and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), a press release by the President's Office said. He announced new initiatives to strengthen the Maldives' military capabilities at the ceremony.
The pro-China Maldivian leader's remarks came days after the first batch of Indian military personnel operating a helicopter gifted by India left the country after Mr. Muizzu stepped up his anti-India rhetoric. After assuming office last year, he had asked India to withdraw nearly 90 military personnel from the island nation.