The Maldivian Embassy in India has revealed that Maldives is unable to participate in the Biennial Naval Exercise Milan due to the current circumstances of a State of Emergency being in effect for those under investigation for serious crimes.
In a statement issued refuting media reports stating that Maldives has declined India's invitation to participate in the naval exercise, Maldivian Embassy in India noted that security personnel are expected to be at a heightened stance of readiness, especially during such a time, mentioning the participation of Maldives naval officers would have been as observers only.
The Maldivian Embassy highlighted when the situation warrant that officers be at their post, back at home, the Government has held back on deploying them to participate in exercises and training programs held overseas and underlined that not being able to participate in the naval exercise at this time is not extraordinary.
Maldives and India enjoy a long history of excellent defence and military cooperation and it is a tradition expressing confidence that will endure and continue indefinitely, said the statement on conclusion.
Biennial Naval Exercise Milan is an eight-day-long mega naval exercise which will begin on March 6. Maldives and India have enjoyed a history of various military and naval exercises together.