Maldives will not renew agreement for joint hydrographic survey with India: top official
- Maldives Rejects Renewal of Hydrographic Surveying MoU with India
Key Points
- The Maldivian Cabinet has decided not to renew a 2019 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with India for hydrographic surveying.
Background of Hydrographic Surveys
- The 2019 agreement facilitated joint hydrographic surveys by the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) and the Indian Navy in 2021, 2022, and 2023.
- Surveys aimed to update navigational charts and electronic charts, enhancing navigational safety and supporting the Blue Economy of the Maldives.
India-Maldives relation
- India provides the largest number of training opportunities for Maldivian National Defence Force (MNDF), meeting around 70% of their defense training requirements.
- A drug detoxification and rehabilitation centre in Addu built with Indian assistance.
- In August 2021, Afcons, an Indian company, signed a contract for the largest-ever infrastructure project in Maldives which is the Greater Male Connectivity Project (GMCP).
- The India-Maldives relationship suffered a setback when Maldives entered into a Free-Trade Agreement (FTA) with China in 2017
Prelims Takeaway
- Greater Male Connectivity Project