Indian military presence in Maldives is myth created by Muizzu & Yameen
India’s “military presence” in Maldives is a myth created by incoming President Mohammed Muizzu and former President Abdullah Yameen, as just a handful of Indian military personnel in the Indian Ocean Region state are stationed for training Maldivian armed forces, according to people with knowledge of the matter.
Two Indian Dhruv advanced light helicopters are operating in Male and the country has given a Dornier aircraft to the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) on condition that while it will operate under the command and control of the MNDF while its running cost will be borne by India, said the people.
They said the Dornier aircraft has since been assisting in joint surveillance activities by India and the Maldives of the exclusive economic zone of the Indian Ocean Region nation.
However, India meets 70% of the defence training requirements of the MNDF, having trained more than 1,500 of its personnel over the past decade, said one of the persons, who did not wish to be identified.
In February 2021, India had extended a $50 million line of credit to the Maldives for defence projects. It also signed a deal to construct and maintain a naval facility.
The agreement to “develop, support and maintain” the Coast Guard harbour in Uthuru Thila Falhu was signed by external affairs minister S. Jaishankar and Mariya Didi, the Maldives defence minister.
Didi said at the time that the harbour and dockyard would be “another significant milestone” in bilateral defence cooperation.
Assuming that some Indian military trainers are eventually withdrawn as a symbolic victory for Muizzu, the Maldives will still have to maintain its engagement with India, said an observer, who did not wish to be identified. The bilateral
