Ahead of Crucial Presidential Elections In Maldives, India Hands Over Defence Platforms To Malé

India is leaving no stone unturned to ensure that the current regime of Ibrahim Mohamed Solih remains in power in Malé. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Tuesday handed over two critical defence platforms to the Maldives National Defence Forces in an effort to strengthen defence and security ties between the two countries.

Singh, who is on a three-day visit to the island nation, met President Solih Tuesday and discussed ways to boost the “strong” defence cooperation between both countries under New Delhi’s twin strategic policies of ‘Neighbourhood First’ as well as ‘Security and Growth for All in the Region’ (SAGAR), according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Defence Tuesday.

“Excellent meeting with HEP Ibrahim Mohamed Solih at the President's Office in Male. We discussed a wide range of issues to further strengthen the relations between India and Maldives,” Singh said in a tweet.

Following the meeting with Solih, Singh handed over a Fast Patrol Vessel and a Landing Craft Assault ship to the Maldives National Defence Forces (MNDF). The Fast Patrol Vessel, capable of coastal and offshore surveillance at high speeds, was commissioned as MNDF Coast Guard ship Huravee, a defence ministry statement said.

“India has emerged as a leading defence exporter in recent years. A defence manufacturing ecosystem has been created which has the advantage of abundant technical manpower. We produce world-class equipment to meet not only our own needs, but also for exports. India offers an enhanced defence partnership to friendly foreign countries, that is accommodative of their national priorities and capacities,” Singh said at the event in Maldives.

The defence minister is on a three-day visit to Maldives where he also met Maldives Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid apart from President Solih and his Maldivian counterpart Mariya Ahmed Didi.

“We wish to create symbiotic relationships where we can learn from each other, grow together and create a win-win situation for all. India’s commitment to support the Maldives will only get stronger with time,” Singh added.

Batting for enhanced security cooperation in the maritime domain, Singh also said: “The Indian Ocean is our shared space. The primary responsibility for peace, stability and prosperity in the region rests with those who live in the region. Peace and security of a region are best secured with cooperation and collaboration of the regional players.”

In a tweet about the event later, he said: “Delighted to handover a Fast Patrol Vessel and a Landing Craft Assault ship to Maldives today. It is a symbol of our shared commitment towards peace & security in the Indian Ocean Region."

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India Keen On Continuation Of Solih Regime As Concerns Over China Rise

Maldives is strategically important for India due to its location and age-old civilisational and cultural ties. President Solih, since coming to power in 2018, has given utmost priority to India in the country’s foreign policy following an ‘India First’ mission. However, he also continues to play a carefully balanced relationship with China.

During Singh’s meeting with his counterpart Didi, both sides discussed issues of “mutual defence cooperation and new initiatives to further strengthen defence and security partnership were discussed in the meeting,” the Ministry of Defence said.

Solih is running for a second term in the upcoming Presidential elections and India is worried that he is facing internal challenges within his own political party by former president and leader of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) Mohamed Nasheed.

Immediately after President Ibrahim Solih came to power in 2018, Maldives became a member of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA).

Maldives is also part of the trilateral dialogue by the National Security Advisor that includes Sri Lanka. The trilateral arrangement will now soon be joined by Bangladesh and Mauritius. It last met in March 2022. The dialogue was revived in 2020 after a gap of six years. It was earlier called the Trilateral for Maritime Security Cooperation.

Maldives is heading for presidential polls in September and so far Solih is the only candidate running for the post as his opponent and former president Abdulla Yameen is in prison on charges of corruption and money-laundering.

Yameen followed a pro-China policy and he also continues to accuse Indian troops of turning Maldives as one of their bases in the Indian Ocean. Yameen’s party members continue to stage protests there, including against India, and create disruptions.

In the last couple of years, Maldives has been facing immense domestic political turmoil and in 2002 it was rattled with the ‘India Out’ campaign carried out by Yameen’s men, which was promptly banned by the Solih government.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar had also visited Maldives in January this year and handed over two sea ambulances to them. 

India is also developing a slew of projects there, the significant amongst them being the Greater Malé Connectivity Project and Hanimaadhoo International Airport development.