MALÉ, Maldives: The Maldives' President Mohamed Muizzu told India on Sunday to withdraw its nearly 100 troops by March 15, a day after returning from China, where he signed a raft of deals. India has a deployment of about 89 personnel, including medical staff, to operate three aircraft to patrol the archipelago's vast maritime territory. Tourism accounts for nearly a third of the Maldives' economy, with Indians making up the largest share of foreign arrivals. Muizzu said the Maldives would also slash reliance on India for health care and medicine, adding more countries where citizens needing government-paid health treatment abroad can go. Most eligible citizens currently get treatment in India, as well as in small numbers in Sri Lanka and Thailand, officials said.
