Minister of Defence of India Rajnath Singh has arrived in the Maldives on a three-day official visit at the invitation of Minister of Defence Mariya Ahmed Didi. He was received at the Velana International Airport (VIA) by Minister Mariya and Chief of Defence Force Major General Abdulla Shamal. It is his first visit to the Maldives since being appointed as the defence minister in 2019.
During the visit, Minister Rajnath Singh will hold bilateral talks with Minister of Defence Mariya Ahmed Didi and Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid, in which they will review the defence relations between the two countries. He will also call on President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.
Additionally, Minister Rajnath Singh will gift one fast patrol vessel ship and a landing craft to the Maldives National Defence Forces (MNDF) in tune with India’s commitment to capacity building of friendly countries and partners in the region. During his stay, he will also visit the ongoing project sites in the country and meet Indian nationals in the Maldives.
India’s defence ministry stated that Minister Rajnath Singh’s visit is expected to be an important landmark in building the strong bonds of friendship between the two countries. India and the Maldives are working closely to effectively address shared challenges, including maritime security, terrorism, radicalisation, piracy, trafficking, organised crime and natural disasters. The two countries seek to work together to jointly develop the capabilities within the Indian Ocean Region.