India pips China, Maldives ask India to maintain naval base
In the most strategically significant deals in the subcontinent, India on 21st February 2021 signed an agreement with the Maldives to “develop, support and maintain” a harbour at Uthuru Thila Falhu naval base in the island nation. The new harbour is being built officially for the use of Maldives National Defence Force Coast Guard. But, it is likely to turn into a strategic asset for India and give it an edge over China, which has been trying to spread its reach in the Indian Ocean region. The agreement was signed by Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar who had a meeting with Maldivian Defence Minister Mariya Didi before concluding his two-day visit to Malé. The Government of Maldives and the EXIM Bank India also signed another agreement for a 50-million-dollar Line of Credit for defence projects in the archipelago. Dr. Jaishankar posted on Twitter: “Glad to sign with Defence Minister @MariyaDidi the UTF (Uthuru Thila Falhu) Harbour Project agreement. Will strengthen Maldivian Coast Guard capability and facilitate regional HADR (Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief) lots. Partners in development, partners in security.” A joint statement noted that the agreement on building the harbour had been signed “pursuant to the request the Government of the Maldives made in April 2013 for support and cooperation of the Government of India to assist the Government of Maldives for enhancing the capability of the Defence Forces of the Maldives in exercising jurisdiction and undertaking maritime surveillance of its EEZ or Exclusive Economic Zone and islands; and subsequent requests made in October 2015 and March 2016”. China was also purportedly interested in building the harbour. But, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih since being elected in November 2018 elections has distanced the nation from China.
In the most strategically significant deals in the subcontinent, India on 21st February 2021 signed an agreement with the Maldives to “develop, support and maintain” a harbour at Uthuru Thila Falhu naval base in the island nation. The new harbour is being built officially for the use of Maldives National Defence Force Coast Guard. But, it is likely to turn into a strategic asset for India and give it an edge over China, which has been trying to spread its reach in the Indian Ocean region. The agreement was signed by Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar who had a meeting with Maldivian Defence Minister Mariya Didi before concluding his two-day visit to Malé. The Government of Maldives and the EXIM Bank India also signed another agreement for a 50-million-dollar Line of Credit for defence projects in the archipelago. Dr. Jaishankar posted on Twitter: “Glad to sign with Defence Minister @MariyaDidi the UTF (Uthuru Thila Falhu) Harbour Project agreement. Will strengthen Maldivian Coast Guard capability and facilitate regional HADR (Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief) lots. Partners in development, partners in security.” A joint statement noted that the agreement on building the harbour had been signed “pursuant to the request the Government of the Maldives made in April 2013 for support and cooperation of the Government of India to assist the Government of Maldives for enhancing the capability of the Defence Forces of the Maldives in exercising jurisdiction and undertaking maritime surveillance of its EEZ or Exclusive Economic Zone and islands; and subsequent requests made in October 2015 and March 2016”. China was also purportedly interested in building the harbour. But, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih since being elected in November 2018 elections has distanced the nation from China.
