Former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih is learnt to have made the remarks after media reports that suggest Muizzu wants to talk to India for debt restructuring.
A media official for the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) told the media here that approximately 25 Indian soldiers who were stationed in Addu city are now back in India after handing over the operations of a helicopter to an Indian civil crew.
There were 24 Indian military personnel to manage the first helicopter, 25 Indians to manage the Dornier aircraft, 26 personnel to manage the second helicopter, and two more for maintenance and engineering, Mohamed Firuzul Abdul Khaleel was quoted as saying by the Maldivian media.
It may not be all smooth sailing for India in the Maldives. The Maldives President-elect Mohamed Muizzu has set the cat amongst pigeons by raising the issue of Indian debt as well as removing Indian military presence in Male as issues he will work towards. This is likely to be a prickly issue. But so far, India is playing a wait-and-watch.