India-Maldives Strengthen Ties
Context:
The Maldives National Defence Forces Coast Guard’s “Ekatha Harbour” was officially opened by laying down the foundation stone by Maldivian counterpart Mariya Didi and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
Points to Ponder:
- The foundation stone for the project was laid by Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his Maldivian counterpart, Mariya Didi. The project is a joint effort between India and the Maldives to develop the Maldives National Defence Forces Coast Guard ‘Ekatha Harbour’ and repair facility at Sifavaru.
- One of India’s largest grant-in-aid projects in the Maldives, the Coast Guard Harbour and Repair Facility aims to improve the Maldives’ maritime security capabilities.
- Both ministers reiterated the need of preserving regional peace, stability, and security during the Indian Defence Minister’s visit, and they acknowledged the need to cooperate to address shared security issues.
- They reaffirmed their commitment to safeguarding these principles and emphasised the significance of respecting international law and the rules-based international order.
- The Ministers agreed to investigate future opportunities for cooperation, especially in the areas of defence trade, capacity building, and joint exercises, according to the joint press statement released after Mr Singh’s visit.
- Notably, this was the first visit by an Indian defence minister to the Maldives in eleven years, underscoring the strengthening of their bilateral relations.
