Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, the recent victor of the Maldives presidential election, is wasting no time in calling on India to withdraw its troops from the nation.

The president-elect, set to be inaugurated later this November, stated in an exclusive interview with the BBC that shortly after his victory, he had a meeting with the Indian ambassador where he made it very clear that all Indian military personnel should be relocated from the country.

Historically, the Maldives has been within India's sphere of influence, and Mr. Muizzu's demand is likely to create diplomatic tensions between the capital city of Malé and Delhi.

In fact, Mr. Muizzu's triumph in the Maldives presidential poll was perceived as a setback for India, particularly because his opponent, the incumbent Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, had strengthened his country's ties with Delhi since assuming office in 2018.

The coalition supporting Mr. Muizzu framed this relationship, bolstered by Mr. Solih's pro-India policy, as a threat to Maldives' sovereignty and security.

Mr. Muizzu's coalition advocates for closer relations with China, which has invested substantial sums of money in the Maldives through loans and grants for infrastructure and development projects.

However, India, seeking a strategic foothold in these geographically vital islands to monitor a critical section of the Indian Ocean, has also provided approximately $2 billion in development aid to the country.

If its troops are forced to leave, it will be a blow for Delhi.

But a furor over "gifts" that Delhi gave the Maldives - two helicopters received in 2010 and 2013 and a small aircraft in 2020 - has given the "India out" campaign a huge boost.

Delhi said the craft was to be used for search and rescue missions and medical evacuations.

But in 2021, the Maldivian defense force said about 75 Indian military personnel were based in the country to operate and maintain the Indian aircraft. This fuelled suspicion and anger as many felt the reconnaissance aircraft were being used as an excuse to put Indian boots on the ground.

Mr Muizzu also says that the presence of these troops could put the Maldives at risk - especially as tensions between India and China escalate along their Himalayan border.

"Maldives is too small to get entangled with this global power struggle. We will not get entangled in this," he said.

Speaking to the BBC before the presidential poll, the outgoing president Mr Solih said fears about the presence of Indian troops were exaggerated.

"There are no militarily active overseas personnel stationed in the Maldives. Indian personnel currently present in the country are under the operational command of the Maldives National Defence Force," he said.

But it's not just the aircraft. Mr Muizzu said he wanted to review all the agreements the Maldives has signed with India in recent years.

"We don't know what's in there. Even in Parliament, some of the MPs during the debates said that they didn't know what was in there. I am sure we will find it out," he said.

Soon after his victory, observers noted that the Chinese ambassador in Malé was quick to congratulate Mr Muizzu.

Chinese President Xi Jinping also weighed in, saying he attached "great importance to the development of bilateral relations and stands ready to work with President-elect Muizzu to carry forward the traditional friendship and deepen practical cooperation".

Mr Muizzu has also spoken highly of Chinese infrastructure projects in the Maldives, saying the investments had transformed Malé City and brought benefits to its residents.

However, he has denied being a "pro-China" candidate as opposed to the "pro-India" Mr Solih.

"I am a pro-Maldives person. For me, Maldives comes first, our independence comes first" he said. "I am not pro or against any country."

Despite this, however, his opposition alliance includes the party of former president Abdulla Yameen who was instrumental in moving the Maldives closer to China.

When India and Western lenders were not willing to offer loans to Yameen's administration due to allegations of human rights violations, Yameen - who is currently serving an 11-year prison sentence for corruption - turned to Beijing who offered him the money without any conditions.

He then joined President Xi's Belt and Road Initiative - which aims to build road, rail, and sea links between China and the rest of the world.

Mr Muizzu was seen as a proxy of Yameen - who was barred from contesting the election.

Soon after he won the election Mr Muizzu asked the current administration to move Yameen from a high-security prison to house arrest in the capital Male.

But given Yameen's uneasy and tense relationship with Delhi, it could well be a struggle for Mr Muizzu's new alliance to balance ties with India.

Mr. Muizzu sounds keen to emerge out of the shadows of Yameen and is all set to charter a new path both domestically and in the country's foreign affairs.

Given his decisive victory, he may not face much resistance internally, at least in the initial stages.

He sounds determined to take the Maldives out of India's orbit but convincing Delhi to withdraw its troops may be his first big challenge.

Noted