Defence Minister Adam Shareef Umar said Wednesday that India, Maldives and Sri Lanka need to work together to ensure safety and security in the Indian Ocean region.
He made the statement at the inaugural function of the 13th joint naval exercise titled “Dosti”.
Speaking at the function, the Defence Minister highlighted the important role played by the navies of both India and Sri Lanka in ensuring maritime security in the Indian Ocean region, and thanked them for their continued assistance to the Maldives.
Highlighting that cooperation between the three countries is vital for regional security, the minister said Dosti is an important exercise for further strengthening military and defense ties between the three neighbours.
This year the exercises are being held in the Maldivian waters.
It is conducted with the aim of “strengthening bonds of friendship and enhancing mutual operational capability and cooperation.
The exercise will focus on Maritime Search and Rescue, Marine Pollution Response and Boarding Operations.
Exercise “Dosti” commenced as a bilateral exercise between India and Maldives in 1991, with the objective of strengthening co-operation between the countries, and Sri Lanka joined the exercise in 2012.