Maldivian military claims control of Indian helicopter, its non-military crew

India's ties with the Maldives came under stress as Muizzu, seen as a pro-China leader, maintained after assuming charge as the president in November that he would keep his election promise of expelling all Indian military personnel from his country 88 Indian military personnel were in the Maldives primarily to operate two helicopters and an aircraft that have carried out hundreds of medical evacuations and humanitarian missions. The defense forces will have the operational control of the helicopter which India loaned the island nation along with a civilian crew, according to an announcement made Thursday. The Maldives National Defence Force…