On Wednesday, the Defence Ministers of India and Maldives held bilateral talks on strengthening security and defence cooperation.
The Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his Maldivian counterpart, Mariya Ahmed Didi, said that India and Maldives recognised the importance of working together to address the shared security challenges based on international law to maintain the region’s peace, stability, and security.
Security and Growth for all in the Region
— रक्षा मंत्री कार्यालय/ RMO India (@DefenceMinIndia) May 3, 2023
In keeping with Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi’s vision of SAGAR, Raksha Mantri Shri @rajnathsingh and Defence Minister of Maldives, Ms @MariyaDidi jointly laid the foundation stone for MNDF Ekatha harbour in Male. pic.twitter.com/7j3TcET75T
India’s Assistance to Maldives
Singh’s visit to the Maldives began on Monday and ended on Wednesday as he laid the foundation stone for the Maldives National Defence Coast Guard ‘Ekatha Harbour’ and repair facility at Sifavuru, one of the most significant grant-in-aid projects of India.
India will construct the harbour in the Uthuru Thila Falhu (UTF) atoll, where it is already assisting the Maldives in building a naval dockyard.
Earlier during Rajnath’s visit, India also handed over two naval vessels, a Fast Patrol Vessel (FPV) and a Landing Craft Assault Ship to the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) as a part of India’s Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR) policy, which aims to work with the nations in the Indian Ocean Region to develop their capabilities jointly.
Singh also attended an event where he handed over the replacement ship for the ageing Huravee. The new ship was commissioned in a ceremony attended by Didi and Maldives’ president, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. The vessel was announced as a gift by Indian PM Narendra Modi in August, and was brought to the country on 15 April.
Culmination of a productive visit!
— India in Maldives (@HCIMaldives) May 3, 2023
Raksha Mantri @rajnathsingh departed after a fruitful visit to the Maldives. The visit highlighted the remarkable growth in India-Maldives defence relations in the last few years. (1/2)@CDFofMNDF @MoDmv @MEAIndia pic.twitter.com/wGwiKVKXBv
Strengthening India-Maldives Ties to Counter Terrorism, Improve Security
A joint press communique issued toward the end of the trip stated, “The Ministers welcomed the progress made in ongoing defence cooperation between the two neighbours, including joint exercises and exchanges of visits by military officials. They also noted the importance of sharing best practices and expertise in areas such as counter terrorism, disaster management, cyber security and maritime security.”
India’s presence in the Maldives has been controversial in recent years, with growing scepticism resulting in an India-Out campaign. The latest visit, aimed at enhancing the security and prosperity of the region, was the first by an Indian Defence Minister in the last 11 years.