India and the Maldives have agreed to enhance maritime security in the Indian Ocean Region.
New Delhi [India], October 7: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu held extensive bilateral discussions on Monday, aimed at establishing a comprehensive partnership focused on economic growth and maritime security. Both leaders acknowledged the shared challenges present in the Indian Ocean Region.
They committed to strengthening maritime and security cooperation, with India offering expertise, enhancing capabilities, and engaging in joint initiatives to help the Maldives address both traditional and non-traditional maritime threats. These threats include piracy, illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, drug trafficking, and terrorism within their Exclusive Economic Zone.
The two nations also agreed on India's support for the timely completion of the Maldives National Defence Force's (MNDF) 'Ekatha' harbour project at Uthuru Thila Falhu (UTF).
Additionally, India will construct a state-of-the-art building for the Maldivian Ministry of Defence (MoD) in Male, while increasing the training and development capacity of the MNDF, Maldives Police Services (MPS), and other security agencies in the Maldives through the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme.
The recent signing of the Charter of the Colombo Security Conclave (CSC), with India and the Maldives as founding members, further strengthened their shared commitment to ensuring a safe, secure, and peaceful Indian Ocean Region.
Beyond defence collaboration, India will introduce initiatives to support women-led development for Maldivian women entrepreneurs and establish a Start-up Incubator-Accelerator in the Maldives to foster youth talent and enhance the island nation's economy.
President Muizzu, who arrived in India on Sunday for a five-day visit, was given a ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan earlier today.
President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed President Muizzu and First Lady Sajidha Mohamed upon their arrival at Rashtrapati Bhavan.