India and the Maldives have realigned their defense and maritime security partnership to foster deeper collaboration and enhance security across the Indian Ocean region.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu agreed to elevate bilateral ties to a comprehensive economic and maritime security partnership during Muizzu’s visit to New Delhi in October 2024. The strategic agreement underscores the nations’ shared interests in maintaining stability in a region that’s increasingly critical to global trade and maritime security, analysts and officials say.
A key pillar of the cooperation is bolstering maritime security capabilities, with the nations agreeing to enhance joint maritime surveillance and defense coordination to counter rising threats such as piracy, illegal fishing and transnational crime.
India’s support includes upgrading Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) assets with advanced radar systems to improve maritime domain awareness. Additionally, India committed to enhancing the Maldives’ coastal security infrastructure by providing platforms for search and rescue operations, as well as disaster response. Many of the more than 1,000 islands that comprise the Maldives are vulnerable to natural disasters and climate change impacts.
“The deepening defense cooperation between India and the Maldives is a calculated response to the region’s growing security needs,” Prateek Joshi, a researcher at New Delhi’s International Centre for Peace Studies, told FORUM. “By strengthening the Maldives National Defence Force with radar systems and maritime platforms, India is ensuring that the Maldives is better equipped to handle not only natural disasters but also emerging maritime threats.”
To help the Maldives’ economy recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenges, India extended a $400 million currency swap agreement, Joshi said. “It’s not just about defense — it’s a holistic effort to stabilize and empower the Maldives as a key player in regional security.”
India also is transferring a patrol vessel and landing craft assault ship to assist the MNDF’s modernization.
“This partnership between India and the Maldives sends a clear message to other stakeholders in the Indian Ocean,” Joshi said. “It underlines that regional stability is best achieved through cooperative security frameworks that respect sovereignty and foster resilience against common challenges.”
During their meeting, Modi and Muizzu emphasized the importance of mutual respect and shared goals. At a joint news conference, Modi said that “the ties of friendship between India and the Maldives nurture mutual cooperation in areas of security, including maritime security, which is essential for maintaining peace in the Indian Ocean region.”
“India is an important partner in the maritime security domain due to our geographical proximity,” Muizzu said, adding that his nation is “fully committed to strengthening our cooperation with India across a broad spectrum of areas.”
