MDP claims Turkish troops are in Maldives and warns US troops may come next

Opposition MP Ameen Faisal on Wednesday accused the government of allowing foreign military presence in the Maldives despite having come to power on a campaign demanding the withdrawal of foreign troops.

Speaking at an MDP press conference, Ameen said the administration rose to power through the ‘India Out’ movement, which called for the removal of Indian military personnel. However, he claimed that the number of Indian military officers in the Maldives has increased instead of decreasing. He further alleged that Turkish military personnel are currently in the country to train Maldivians in the use of drones.

“Now there are rumours that US troops will come to the Maldives. If they get Chagos, they will give it to the US,” Ameen said.

He referred to comments President Dr Mohamed Muizzu made in an interview with an American newspaper, in which the President said that if the Maldives were to gain sovereignty over Chagos, an agreement could be reached on the continued operation of the US military base in the region.

The Chagos Archipelago has long been disputed between Mauritius and the UK, though the UK decided last year to transfer sovereignty to Mauritius. Under existing arrangements, the United States continues to operate a military base in Diego Garcia. The Maldives has also asserted its claim over Chagos, with the President stating that the Maldives is the most deserving country to receive the territory.

ފެބްރުއަރީ 5 ވަނަދުވަހު، ބޭއްވުމަށް ހަމަޖެހިފައިވާ ރައްޔިތުންގެ މަޖިލީހުގެ މިއަހަރުގެ ފުރަތަމަ ދައުރުގެ ފުރަތަމަ ޖަލްސާއާއި ގުޅޭގޮތުން އެމް.ޑީ.ޕީ ޕާލިމެންޓަރީ ގުރޫޕުން ބާއްވާ ނޫސްވެރިންގެ ބައްދަލުވުން https://t.co/ZIBmyyTT2A

— MDP Secretariat (@MDPSecretariat) February 4, 2026

Ameen went on to accuse the government of taking “illegal money” in exchange for allowing the Maldives to be used for a US military presence.

“Indian troops are in Maldives more than ever, Turkish troops are in Maldives in the name of teaching people about drones. Now they are preparing to bring in US troops by taking money to share with these people,” he said.

Before coming to power, several senior figures in the current administration were leading voices in the ‘India Out’ campaign. President Muizzu had pledged to withdraw all Indian troops from the Maldives, and the government has said all Indian military personnel will leave by May 2024. The administration has stated that Indian civilians will replace them to operate the helicopters donated to the Maldives.

The MDP, however, continues to allege that Indian military personnel remain in the country under civilian labels.

Relations between the Maldives and India deteriorated during the ‘India Out’ campaign and following derogatory remarks made by several deputy ministers about Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi early in the administration’s term. In recent months, the government has taken steps to repair ties with India, one of the Maldives’ largest development partners.