NEW DELHI, Dec 3 (Reuters) - In a significant development, India has agreed to withdraw its soldiers from the Maldives, according to President Mohamed Muizzu. The announcement came on Sunday as Muizzu spoke to reporters following discussions with Indian officials on the sidelines of the COP28 climate summit.

President Muizzu, who won the presidential election in September, had campaigned on a promise to change the Maldives's "India first" policy and remove the small military presence of approximately 75 Indian personnel. "In the discussions we had, the Indian government has agreed to remove Indian soldiers," Muizzu said. He also revealed plans to establish a high-level committee to address issues related to development projects.

India has been providing military assistance to the Maldives, including equipment and support in disaster situations, and has been involved in constructing a naval dockyard. A senior Indian government official in New Delhi confirmed that discussions had taken place between the two countries regarding the withdrawal of Indian soldiers. The official emphasized that both sides recognized the importance of India's assistance and that discussions were ongoing on how to keep Indian platforms operational. He mentioned the establishment of a core group to delve into the details of the way forward, without directly commenting on Muizzu's statement.

India and China have been competing for influence in the region, and President Muizzu's coalition is seen as leaning more towards China. Most of the Indian military personnel stationed in the Maldives are responsible for operating and managing two helicopters and a Dornier aircraft provided by India.

During his inauguration last month, President Muizzu expressed his commitment to ensuring that the Maldives no longer has any foreign military presence. He had made the request for Indian troop withdrawal to Kiren Rijiju, India's minister for earth sciences, who represented India at the president's inauguration.

The Indian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not yet responded to requests for comments on this matter.

This decision to withdraw Indian soldiers from the Maldives marks a significant shift in the region's geopolitical dynamics and could have implications for the balance of power between India and China. The establishment of the high-level committee will likely play a crucial role in resolving any issues related to development projects between the Maldives and India.