The Indian Navy’s patrol vessel, INS Sharda, arrived at Maafilaafushi Atoll to initiate a Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) exercise with the Maldives. This drill, scheduled to take place from May 4 to May 10, highlights India’s increasing involvement as a primary security partner and first responder within the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
This deployment aligns with India’s MAHASAGAR vision—Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions—which seeks to foster regional cooperation, enhance disaster preparedness, and promote maritime stability through modern technological advancements and diplomatic efforts. The MAHASAGAR initiative builds on the earlier SAGAR framework (Security and Growth for All in the Region), further elevating India’s commitment to multilateral maritime cooperation through the utilization of innovative tools like satellite surveillance and AI-driven analytics.
India and the Maldives have maintained decades-long defense relations, exemplified by Exercise DOSTI, which began in 1991 and developed into a trilateral maritime collaboration with Sri Lanka in 2012. The current HADR exercise aims to boost coordination, interoperability, and capacity-building to effectively respond to natural disasters and humanitarian emergencies—an essential focus for a region increasingly threatened by climate-induced challenges.
The Indian Navy has established itself as a leader in regional disaster response efforts, with notable operations such as Operation Vanilla in Madagascar. By enhancing HADR capabilities with nations such as the Maldives, India strengthens its position as a trusted maritime security partner within the Global South.
This exercise follows a series of diplomatic engagements led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Southeast Asia, which reconfirms India’s strategic outreach to its regional partners. As cooperation deepens, initiatives like the HADR drill not only fortify bilateral relationships but also enhance the collective resilience of the Indian Ocean community.
