India assures Maldives of stronger defence cooperation

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India assures Maldives of stronger defence cooperation

NEW DELHI: India has reassured Maldives of its commitment to further strengthen bilateral defence cooperation, ranging from supply of military equipment and training to conduct of joint combat exercises, in the backdrop of ties between the two facing some rough weather during the internal power struggle in the archipelago over the last two years.

This came during the talks between defence minister AK Antony and his visiting Maldivian counterpart Mohamed Nazim on Thursday. Antony also told Nazim that all Maldivian National Defence Force (MNDF) personnel will also be eligible for treatment in Indian military medical institutions for major surgeries and illnesses, in addition to training of Maldivian medical specialists in India.

As part of the ongoing training and "capacity-building of its armed forces, India will also hand over another Dhruv advanced light helicopter (ALH) to Maldives when Nazim visits the Southern Naval Command at Kochi on Saturday. "The ALH, the second such helicopter to be provided to Maldives, is expected to be positioned in Male by early-2014," said an official.

In the run up to the proposed visit of newly-elected Maldivian PresidentAbdulla Yameen to India from December 23 to 25, Nazim will also be holding talks with home minister Sushilkumar Shinde, external affairs minister Salman Khurshid, national security advisor Shivshankar Menon and others on Friday.

India remains wary of China's continuing efforts to expand its strategic footprint in the strategically-located 1,190-island archipelago in the Indian Ocean Region after establishing a full-fledged embassy there. Over the last decade, China has steadily forged maritime links with eastern Africa, Seychelles, Mauritius, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Cambodia, among others.

India, on its part, has tried to counter these strategic moves in the IOR by stepping up its own defence engagement with the countries concerned. Ever since Antony's visit to Male in August 2009, for instance, Indian warships and Dornier reconnaissance aircraft have been regularly helping Maldives in maritime patrol and surveillance.

India assures Maldives of stronger defence cooperation - The Times of India

 

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New Delhi: Defence Minister A K Antony on Thursday said India was committed to strengthening defence relations with Maldives as he met with Maldivian Minister of Defence and National Security Mohamed Nazim who is here on an official visit.

He also announced all MNDF personnel will henceforth be eligible for treatment in armed forces medical institutions in India for major surgeries and for treatment of major and serious illnesses, a Ministry of Defence spokesperson said.

Both the ministers also discussed continued conduct of bilateral exercises and decided the next joint exercise will be held in 2014.

Antony conveyed continued Indian support to the medical facilities and expertise for the Maldives National Defence Force.

They discussed training of Maldivian medical specialists in India, deputation of Indian armed forces medical specialists to Maldives and strengthening of medical infrastructure in Maldives among other proposals, the spokesperson said.

During the visit, an Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) will also be symbolically handed over to the MNDF. The ALH is expected to be positioned in Male by early 2014 and would be the second ALH to be provided to Maldives. The Maldivian Minister expressed his appreciation of the assistance being provided by India in this regard.

During the hour-long meeting, both the Defence Ministers discussed a number of issues relating to regional security and matters pertaining to bilateral defence cooperation between both the countries.

India-Maldives ties had come under strain in the last two years as the Indian Ocean island archipelago went through an political turmoil.


India remains wary of China's continuing efforts to expand its strategic footprint in Maldives.

India, on its part, has tried to stepped up its own defence engagement with Maldives as well as other countries in the Indian Ocean region. Antony had visited Maldives in August 2009. Indian warships and Dornier reconnaissance aircraft have been regularly helping Maldives in maritime patrol and surveillance.


India committed to boosting defence ties with Maldives: Antony