The newly elected president of the Maldives, Mohamed Muizzu, has made a promise to end the presence of foreign military in the strategically located atoll nation. Speaking at his first public rally after winning the runoff election, Muizzu did not explicitly mention India, the only foreign power with a military deployment in the Maldives. However, he stated that military forces based in the country would be sent back in accordance with the law and the decision of the Maldivian people. Outgoing President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih had shifted the nation’s relations towards India, after his predecessor Abdulla Yameen aligned the Maldives with China for infrastructure projects. Muizzu, who is considered a proxy of Yameen, secured Yameen’s release from prison shortly after his victory. He dismissed claims of being a pro-China leader, stating that his focus would be on the Maldives and its best interests. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and China both congratulated Muizzu on his win, highlighting their commitment to their respective relationships with the Maldives. The Maldives, with its 800-kilometer chain of atolls, is situated in a crucial east-west shipping route. Muizzu had previously expressed his desire to strengthen ties between the Maldives and China during a meeting with Chinese officials.