Indian Chief of the Army Staff General Bipin Rawat has arrived in Maldives on an official visit.
Chief of Defence Force Major General Abdulla Shamaal and Vice Chief of Defence Force Brigadier General Abdul Raheem Abdul Latheef received General Bipin at Velana International Airport (VIA) upon his arrival in Maldives.
During his visit, Bipin will have official meetings with Minister of Defence Mariya Ahmed Didi and Major General Abdulla Shamaal. He will also pay a courtesy call on President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. He will also visit the Composite Training Centre located at the Northern Area Headquarters of Maldives National Defence Force in Maafilaafushi, Lhaviyani Atoll.
Weakened diplomatic relations between Maldives and India have improved significantly since President Solih was sworn in last November. Minister Mariya and Major General Shamaal travelled to India on an official visit last January to discuss ways in which the relations could be strengthened.
Bipin Rawat was appointed as the 27th Indian Chief of the Army on December 6, 2019.