President Dr Mohamed Muizzu, who came to power in the Maldives on an “India Out” campaign in the September 2023 elections, has reiterated that his government would not renew an agreement with India for hydrographic surveys of the country’s waters, and also pledged to initiate and establish a 24/7 monitoring system of Maldivian waters in March.
The President, who is on a tour of various atolls and islands which make up the archipelago state, also also clarified that the recent military assistance agreement signed with Beijing involved getting non-lethal military equipment and military training from China, which would strengthen Maldives’ independence and autonomy.
Speaking to residents of Dhaalu atoll late Tuesday, Dr Muizzu said China and Maldives had always had military cooperation, and the new agreement was aimed at strengthening its military capacity. “To obtain the different forms of training required by the Maldives’ military, and to be granted various non-lethal military equipment free of charge, that is what this agreement is about. This will increase the technical capacity of the defence forces,” he said, adding that “these things are being done so that we can stand on our own two feet, so that we can have our autonomy and independence.”
Earlier, addressing a gathering of locals of Raa atoll, Dr Muizzu said he had asked the defence ministry to acquire the equipment, facilities and training needed to conduct underwater surveys independently.
“We decided not to renew the agreement entered into with the Indian government to scan and acquire all insights and sceneries of our underwater body. All these underwater details are the property of our heritage. They depart after performing scans in manners that acquaint them to all insights, draw maps and to top it all, we end up having to purchase it from them as well,” he said.
The agreement for hydrographic surveys by India was signed by the earlier administration of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, and it came after the military certified that it posed no threat to the country’s security.
“We will then acquire all insights of our underwater features by ourselves. With this information, the charts will also be drawn by us. This is the work we are presently doing.” Once the facilities are acquired, locals will be conducting these surveys and drawing the charts to end the reliance on India, he said.
He also noted that the country did not have the capability of monitoring its Exclusive Economic Zone, which was twice the land mass of the country. “Although the [EEZ] is part of our territory, we did not have the capacity to monitor the area,” he said, underlining that effective monitoring could help boost the economy through increased fishing and other maritime activities. The Maldives Coast Guard routinely seeks help from neighbouring nations and conducts special joint patrolling operations.
“God willing, our work will commence in March. We will establish a 24/7 monitoring system during this month,” Dr Muizzu said, adding that this would enhance the country’s security and sovereignty.
One of the first measures taken by the Muizzu government was to deport the handful of Indian soldiers stationed in the Maldives to operate and maintain the Dornier aircraft and helicopters gifted by New Delhi.
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