According to Mohamed Shahyb, Chief Spokesperson at President Mohamed Muizzu’s office, the Cabinet recently decided that the MoU, which is due to expire in 2023, will not be renewed. “It’s a decision by the Cabinet,” Mr. Shahyb told.
Hydrographic Survey Agreement
Nature of Hydrographic Surveys:
These surveys involve mapping water bodies to facilitate safe and efficient maritime transportation.
2019 Agreement: During Prime Minister Modi’s state visit to the Maldives in June 2019, an MoU was signed for cooperation in hydrography between the Indian Navy and the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF).
Survey Objectives: The surveys aimed to update navigational charts and support sectors like tourism and fisheries. They also involved tidal observations and identifying new shoals.
“According to the terms of this agreement, if one party wishes to drop the agreement, the other party must be informed of the decision six months before the agreement is set to expire. According to the terms, the agreement automatically renews for an additional five years, otherwise”.
Following the 2019 agreement, the Maldives National Defence Force & the Indian Navy have carried out three joint hydrographic surveys in February and March 2021, April and May 2022, and in January and February 2023, according to a statement issued by the High Commission of India in Maldives. The removal of Indian troops in the Maldives was the main campaign of Muizzu’s party. Currently, there are around 70 Indian troops, along with Dornier 228 maritime patrol aircraft and two HAL Dhruv helicopters, stationed in the Maldives.
India-Maldives Relations
•Defense cooperation extends to the areas of Joint Exercises – “Ekuverin”, “Dosti”, “Ekatha” and “Operation Shield” (begun in 2021).
•India provides the largest number of training opportunities for MNDF, meeting around 70% of their defense training requirements.
•Tourism is the mainstay of Maldivian economy. The country is now a major tourist destination for some Indians and a job destination for others.
•In August 2021, Afcons, an Indian company, signed a contract for the largest-ever infrastructure project in Maldives which is the Greater Male Connectivity Project (GMCP).
•India emerged as Maldives’ 3rd largest trade partner in 2021.
•A Bilateral USD Currency Swap Agreement between RBI and Maldives Monetary Authority was signed on 22nd July 2019.
•The India-Maldives relationship suffered a setback when Maldives entered into a Free-Trade Agreement (FTA) with China in 2017.
