India has gifted a fast patrol vessel and a landing craft to the Maldives as a sign of its commitment to capacity building and strengthening friendly ties with its maritime neighbour. The Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh, handed over the vessels during his visit to the Maldives from May 1 to 3. Singh’s visit is an important landmark in building strong bonds of friendship between the two countries. During his visit, Singh held talks with Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid, and Defence Minister Mariya Didi.
The gift is in line with India’s commitment to capacity building of friendly countries and partners in the region, said the defence ministry. The overall bilateral ties between India and the Maldives, including in the areas of defence and security, have been on an upward trajectory in recent years. The Maldives is one of India’s key maritime neighbours in the Indian Ocean region.
In August last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Maldivian President Solih kick-started the India-funded Greater Male Connectivity Project (GMCP), the largest infrastructure initiative in the island nation. Under the project, a 6.74-km-long bridge and causeway link will be built to connect Maldivian capital Male with the adjoining islands of Villingli, Gulhifalhu and Thilafushi.
India’s Neighbourhood First policy has also been a boon to the Maldives, which is one of its biggest beneficiaries. India has been working closely with the Maldives to enhance maritime security and counter-terrorism cooperation. It has also provided aid and assistance to the Maldives during natural disasters such as the 2004 tsunami and the 2014 flash floods.
India and the Maldives share a strong cultural and historical bond, and Singh’s visit highlights the growing importance of the bilateral relationship. The gift of the patrol vessel and landing craft is a clear sign of India’s commitment to its maritime neighbours and its desire to work together to build a more secure and prosperous region.