India, Nov. 19 -- The new president of the Maldives, Mohamed Muizzu, on Saturday formally asked India to withdraw its military personnel from the archipelago, and people familiar with the matter said it was agreed the two sides would discuss "workable solutions" to the issue.

Muizzu, who is closely aligned to former pro-China president Abdulla Yameen, made the request during a meeting with earth sciences minister Kiren Rijiju in Male. Rijiju had represented the Indian government at Muizzu's inauguration on Friday.

"At the meeting, President Muizzu had formally requested Government of India to withdraw its military personnel from the Maldives," a readout from the Maldivian President's Office said.

Muizzu told Rijiju that during the pres...