India and Maldives to Continue Close Cooperation on Maritime Security and Counter-Terrorism

New Delhi: India and Maldives held substantive discussions on further strengthening bilateral defence cooperation. Both side agreed that the two countries would continue their traditionally close cooperation on issues of maritime security, counter-terrorism and medical cooperation. Raksha Mantri Nirmala Sitharaman reiterated India’s commitment to contribute towards capacity building and training requirements of the Maldives National Defence Forces.

Earlier, Raksha Mantri received Maldivian Defence Minister Mariya Ahmed Didi at South Block who is in India on official bilateral visit.Chief of the Army Staff General Bipin Rawat, Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal B S Dhanoa, Vice Chief of the Naval Staff Vice Admiral Ajit Kumar P and Additional Director General of the Indian Coast Guard VSR Murthy call on the Maldivian Defence Minister.

Didiwill witness the 70^th Republic Day Parade at Rajpath as well as visit various Indian defence institutions such as the Indian Maritime Analysis Centre in Gurugram and Army Training Command in Shimla. She will also interact with National Cadet Corps (NCC) cadets, including those from the Maldives, at the NCC Republic Day Camp.

The second round of the India-Maldives Defence Cooperation Dialogue was also held. The Indian delegation was headed by Defence Secretary Sanjay Mitra and Maldivian side was led by Chief of Defence Forces of Maldives Major General Abdulla Shamaal.