Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh met with Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in Male on May 2, with a focus on strengthening bilateral defence engagement between the two nations. Singh began his three-day visit to the Maldives on May 1 and the meeting with the President was one of the key highlights of his visit.
Singh took to Twitter to share his thoughts on the meeting, saying, “Excellent meeting with HEP Ibrahim Mohamed Solih at the President’s Office in Male. We discussed a wide range of issues to further strengthen the relations between India and Maldives.”
The Indian Defence Minister’s visit to the Maldives comes at a time when the two countries are looking to strengthen their defence cooperation. India and the Maldives share a long history of close cooperation in the fields of security and defence, and Singh’s visit is expected to further enhance these ties.
During his visit, Singh also met with his Maldivian counterpart Mariya Didi and other senior officials in the Maldives to discuss issues of mutual interest. The two sides reportedly discussed ways to further enhance defence cooperation, including joint exercises, training and capacity-building programs.
The Indian Defence Minister’s visit to the Maldives is also significant as it comes at a time when China is seeking to increase its influence in the Indian Ocean region. The Maldives has been a key focus of China’s outreach in the region and India is keen to counter this by strengthening its ties with the Maldives and other countries in the region.
India and the Maldives have already taken several steps to boost defence cooperation in recent years. In 2018, India provided a $100 million Line of Credit to the Maldives for defence purposes, and in 2019, the two countries signed an agreement on the sharing of intelligence and information on maritime issues.
Overall, Singh’s visit to the Maldives is expected to further strengthen the strategic partnership between the two countries and enhance cooperation in the field of defence. This will be crucial in ensuring peace and stability in the Indian Ocean region and countering China’s growing influence in the region.