In line with India’s commitment towards regional cooperation, INS Sharda arrived at Maafilaafushi Atoll, Maldives, for a Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) exercise planned from May 4 to May 10.
“This deployment is a testament to the strong defence and maritime cooperation between India and the Maldives,” read a statement issued by the Ministry of Defence.
The Ministry said the deployment aligns with India’s “MAHASAGAR” (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions) vision, emphasising collaborative efforts to ensure peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indian Ocean Region.
It will focus on actions like Disaster Response Coordination, Search and Rescue Operations, Medical Assistance, Logistical Support, Joint Drills, Training Sessions, and Community Engagement following a major natural disaster,” the statement said.
Through such collaborative efforts, India and the Maldives continue strengthening their partnership and ensuring readiness to respond effectively to natural disasters and other humanitarian challenges.
India-Maldives Ties
India and Maldives share ethnic, linguistic, cultural, religious and commercial links steeped in antiquity.
India was among the first to recognise Maldives after its independence in 1965 and to establish diplomatic relations with the country.
India provides the largest number of training opportunities for Maldivian National Defence Force (MNDF), meeting around 70% of their defence training requirements. India has trained over 1500 MNDF trainees over the past 10 years.
