Weeks after India withdrew its military personnel from the Maldives, the two helicopters gifted by New Delhi are still operational, flown with a Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) soldier on board. President Mohamed Muizzu, who pledged to remove Indian military presence, saw the repatriation of the last personnel by May 10. India replaced its military staff with civilians to continue operating the donated helicopters and Dornier aircraft, used for medical evacuations and humanitarian missions, maintaining defense ties despite local political changes.
