With an eye on China, India has provided military aid, training, “capacity-building” and EEZ surveillance to Maldives over the last several years

NEW DELHI: In an indication of a slight upswing in bilateral military ties after a distinct chill, India has dispatched a warship to Maldives to undertake joint surveillance and patrol of the archipelago’s sprawling exclusive economic zone.

Two officers and eight sailors from the Indian Navy’s marine commandos wing are also currently at Maafilhafushi in Maldives, 145 km north of Male, to train its personnel in diving and tactics under the second asymmetric warfare training exercise called “Ekatha” from April 28 to May 15.

“It is an endeavour of the Indian government and Navy to ensure safety and security of the vast EEZ of the island nation,” said Navy spokesperson Captain D K Sharma on Friday. Offshore patrol vessel INS Sumedha will undertake an operational turn-around at Male on May 11-12, which will involve training and embarkation of some personnel from the Maldives National Defence Forces.

It will then undertake the joint surveillance from May 12 to 15.

Bilateral ties between the two countries had soured after Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen on February 5 declared Emergency following an order by the country’s Supreme Court to release a group of opposition leaders convicted in widely criticised trials.

Maldives had subsequently declined India’s invitation to participate in its eight-day mega naval conclave called “Milan” at the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Maldives had later also asked the India to take back one of its two Dhruv advanced light helicopters (ALHs) gifted to the archipelago, as was first reported by TOI in April.

With an eye on China, India has provided military aid, training, “capacity-building” and EEZ surveillance to Maldives over the last several years. Apart from gifting a fast-attack craft, India has stationed six pilots and over a dozen ground personnel there to operate the ALHs and help the MNDF.