A thaw in chill:Delhi,Male hold defence talk

CategoryDefence

Last Updated09/09/2024

For the first time since India withdrew its uniformed military personnel from the Maldives early this year, New Delhi and Male held a defence dialogue here Friday at the level of top officials

For the first time since India withdrew its military personnel from the Maldives earlier this year, New Delhi and Malé held a high-level defence dialogue on Friday.
This marks a significant step toward repairing bilateral ties, which have been under strain since President Mohamed Muizzu came to power with his "India Out" campaign.
The defence dialogue, held at the Defence Secretary level, focused on ongoing defence cooperation projects, forthcoming bilateral military exercises, and discussions on high-level exchanges and capability development.
The Indian delegation was led by Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane, while the Maldivian side was represented by General Ibrahim Hilmy, Chief of Defence Force of the Maldives National Defence Force.
According to an official statement, both sides reviewed the entire range of bilateral defence cooperation and explored ways to expedite the implementation of various defence projects.
The discussions were described as "productive" and are expected to foster shared interests in the Indian Ocean Region, contributing to regional stability and prosperity.

This defence dialogue is noteworthy, given the diplomatic chill that has overshadowed relations between India and the Maldives since President Muizzu’s election in November 2023.
Muizzu, perceived as pro-China, has made it clear that he seeks to reduce India’s military presence in his country. Following his election, India agreed to withdraw around 80 military personnel stationed in the Maldives between March and May 2024, in an effort to ease tensions.
This dialogue is the first major defence discussion since the withdrawal of Indian troops, signaling a potential renewal of Delhi-Malé defence cooperation.

Key initiatives include:
- 2020: India gifted a Dornier aircraft to the Maldives.
- 2019: India handed over a patrol vessel to Malé.
- 2022: India provided a coastal radar system to the Maldives and laid the foundation stone for the Coast Guard ‘Ekatha Harbour’ at Sifavaru, a significant grant-in-aid project aimed at bolstering Maldivian Coast Guard capabilities.
Additionally, PM Modi and then-President Solih inaugurated the Greater Malé Connectivity Project (GMCP), a $500-million project funded by India, marking one of the largest infrastructure collaborations between the two nations.
However, relations soured after President Muizzu came to power. His government decided not to renew a 2019 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with India for hydrographic surveying, which had previously led to joint operations between the Indian Navy and the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF).

The Defence Secretary-level dialogue signals a thaw in India-Maldives ties, emphasizing both countries' shared interests in regional security, despite Muizzu’s past rhetoric.
The talks provide a roadmap for continued cooperation, with both nations eyeing mutual benefit from collaborative defence projects in the strategically important Indian Ocean Region.
The dialogue could mark the beginning of a reset in India-Maldives relations, focused on regional security, development projects, and maintaining stability in the face of growing competition in the Indian Ocean.