David James
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Eye on China: Antony to visit Maldives on Saturday
New Delhi: Against the backdrop of increasing influence of China in Maldives, Defence Minister AK Antony will be on a three-day visit to Male where he is scheduled to attend two programmes including the foundation stone laying ceremony of a military academy.
On invitation of Maldivian Defence Minister Col Mohamed Nazim, the defence minister will be in Male from Saturday where he will participate in the inauguration of a military hospital and foundation stone laying ceremony of the training academy of the Maldivian National Defence Forces, the defence ministry said in a release.
Both the projects are part of ongoing co-operation between the defence establishments of the two neighbouring countries.
In the first state visit by an Indian minister to Maldives after the regime change there, Antony is also expected to call on President Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik also.
The visit comes at a time when Maldives is seen to be moving close to China which opened its embassy there in November last year.
Antony had last visited Maldives in August 2009, which was followed by high-level visits including those by its defence minister and senior officers of its defence forces.
There have been regular exchanges and interactions between the armed forces of both sides, including conduct of joint exercises and training programmes. Both countries have also been cooperating for regular EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone) surveillance, the release said.
During the talks, both the defence ministers are expected to review ongoing defence exchanges and discuss ways to enhance military co-operation.
Defence secretary Shashi Kant Sharma, Western Naval Commander Vice-Admiral Shekhar Sinha, Director General Military Training Lt Gen SP Tanwar and DGAFMS Air Marshal DP Joshi will be accompanying Antony during the visit.
Eye on China: Antony to visit Maldives on Saturday | Firstpost
Antony to visit Maldives to inaugurate military hospital - Indian Express
New Delhi: Against the backdrop of increasing influence of China in Maldives, Defence Minister AK Antony will be on a three-day visit to Male where he is scheduled to attend two programmes including the foundation stone laying ceremony of a military academy.
On invitation of Maldivian Defence Minister Col Mohamed Nazim, the defence minister will be in Male from Saturday where he will participate in the inauguration of a military hospital and foundation stone laying ceremony of the training academy of the Maldivian National Defence Forces, the defence ministry said in a release.
Both the projects are part of ongoing co-operation between the defence establishments of the two neighbouring countries.
In the first state visit by an Indian minister to Maldives after the regime change there, Antony is also expected to call on President Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik also.
The visit comes at a time when Maldives is seen to be moving close to China which opened its embassy there in November last year.
Antony had last visited Maldives in August 2009, which was followed by high-level visits including those by its defence minister and senior officers of its defence forces.
There have been regular exchanges and interactions between the armed forces of both sides, including conduct of joint exercises and training programmes. Both countries have also been cooperating for regular EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone) surveillance, the release said.
During the talks, both the defence ministers are expected to review ongoing defence exchanges and discuss ways to enhance military co-operation.
Defence secretary Shashi Kant Sharma, Western Naval Commander Vice-Admiral Shekhar Sinha, Director General Military Training Lt Gen SP Tanwar and DGAFMS Air Marshal DP Joshi will be accompanying Antony during the visit.
Eye on China: Antony to visit Maldives on Saturday | Firstpost
Antony to visit Maldives to inaugurate military hospital - Indian Express