North News
New Delhi, January 8
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will meet Maldives Defence Minister Mohammed Ghassan Maumoon in New Delhi on Wednesday to strengthen bilateral defence cooperation, the Defence Ministry said on Tuesday. The talks will focus on joint training, regular military exercises, defence projects, and capacity-building initiatives for the Maldives National Defence Forces. Discussions will also include the supply of defence equipment to the island nation.
India and the Maldives, bound by historical and cultural ties, play crucial roles in ensuring security in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). The Maldives is a key partner in India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy, which aligns with its SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) vision. The Maldives Defence Minister is on a three-day visit to India from January 8 to 10, during which he will also visit Goa and Mumbai to further enhance defence collaboration, the Defence Ministry said.
