Defense Minister Mariya Didi have said that there is no reason why Indian army would want to stay in Maldives. She said that since Maldives is so close to India, Indians can come to Maldives within a short period.
She said that Maldives wants to maintain military relations with all the countries at the same level but the relations with Sri Lanka and India are strong because if something were to happen these two countries can help Maldives easily.
Mariya said that China is in the Pacific Ocean and they can only help if they have a base in this area. She said that however India or Sri Lanka will not need to make a base to do that. She further said that Indians are planning to provide 1 billion dollar as aid to Maldives but she denied that Indians demanded a military base or deployment of military in the Maldives in return. She said that, it was a rumor that is being spread by political opponents.
When asked if she can give a guarantee that Indians will not make a base in Maldives she did not give a direct answer. “All these days India did not make a base in Maldives. There is no reason for India to make a base. Because their country is right next to Maldives” said Mariya.
