India - Maldives

  • Recently, India and the Maldives signed a defence Line of Credit agreement worth USD 50 million.
  • The agreement was signed during the visit by the External Affairs Minister of India to Maldives. 
  • It was signed pursuant to the request by the Government of Maldives in April 2013 for India’s support and cooperation in enhancing the capability of the Maldives Defence Forces in maritime surveillance, and subsequent requests in October 2015 and March 2016.

OTHER KEY POINTS

  • A dockyard will be developed at the Uthuru Thila Falhu (UTF) Naval Base with Indian assistance, a few miles northwest of Male.
  • The agreement is part of the defence action plan signed in 2016 by then Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom during a visit to India.
  • An agreement to develop, support and maintain a Maldives National Defence Force Coast Guard Harbour at Sifavaru was also signed.
  • The Maldivian side assured India of its support for permanent membership of India at the “expanded and reformed” UN Security Council.

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