India and the Maldives on Wednesday agreed to further strengthen bilateral defence ties and reaffirmed the importance of maintaining peace, stability and security in the Indian Ocean as they underscored the significance of respecting international law and rules-based international order. This resolve came in the backdrop of China increasing forays into the strategically important region.
These commitments were the main focus points of talks between Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s talks with his Maldivian counterpart Mariya Didi in Male. The two sides also issued a joint communiqué after the talks.
Rajnath , who arrived in Male on a three-day visit on the invitation of his Maldivian counterpart Mariya Didi, also jointly laid the foundation stone for the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) Ekatha harbour in Male in keeping with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of SAGAR or Security And Growth for All in the Region.
The development of the Coastguard Harbour and repair facility at Sifavaru is one of the biggest grant-in-aid projects of India.
The joint statement said during his visit Rajnath and Didi held bilateral talks to enhance defence cooperation and strengthen the longstanding partnership between India and Maldives.
“They discussed a wide range of regional and global security issues of mutual concern, and agreed to deepen their cooperation in the defence and security domains,” it said.
“Both Ministers reaffirmed the importance of maintaining peace, stability and security in the region and recognised the need to work together to address common security challenges” the statement said. They underscored the importance of respecting international law and rules-based international order and expressed their commitment to upholding these principles, it added.
The Maldivian defence minister described Rajnath’s visit as “a major milestone in the bilateral defence cooperation engagements” between the two countries.
“His visit epitomizes the strong sisterly bond that exist between our two nations from time immemorial,” she said and Rajnath for the reception hosted by him on board INS Airavat.
“The reception celebrated the rich cultural heritage and friendship that exists between India and Maldives. The event was a testament to the strong bonds of cooperation and mutual respect fostered over years,” she said.
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.
The ministers agreed to explore additional avenues for cooperation, including in the areas of defence trade, capacity building and joint exercises. They also discussed the need to promote people-to-people contacts and exchanges between the armed forces of both countries. They attended a ceremony for the commissioning of the replacement ship for Huravee. Prime Minister Modi had announced the provision of the replacement ship for the aging Huravee, during Maldivian President Ibrahim Solih’s recent visit to India.
Rajnath also gifted MNDF an additional Landing Craft. The handing over of these vessels are in line with India’s SAGAR vision that seeks to work together with and jointly develop the capabilities of friends and partners for a safe, secure, prosperous and stable Indian Ocean Region.