Maldives to End Hydrographic Survey Agreement with India

Maldives to End Hydrographic Survey Agreement with India

VoM News Desk | December 15, 2023 | 12:04 PM IST | India, Maldives, World | Follow on Google News

Maldives to End Hydrographic Survey Agreement with India

Maldives to End Hydrographic Survey Agreement with India

The Maldives has officially announced its decision not to extend the Hydrographic Survey agreement with India, as reported by The Press, a Maldives-based news website. Mohamed Firuzul, the Under Secretary for Public Policy in Maldives, outlined that part of the ‘Hafthaa-14’ roadmap is to review and annul diplomatic agreements jeopardizing the nation’s sovereignty.

Speaking after the Cabinet meeting at the Maldives President’s Office, Firuzul mentioned that the President and the Cabinet have chosen not to renew the India-Maldives Hydrography agreement, scheduled to expire in June 2024, in line with the agreement’s clause allowing either party to terminate it six months before expiry.

The Hydrographic Survey agreement, inked during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit in June 2019, permitted India to conduct an extensive study of Maldives’ territorial waters, encompassing reefs, coastlines, ocean currents, and more. The recent joint survey by the Indian Navy and the Maldives National Defense Force covered specific areas in Northern Maldives.

Firuzul highlighted that the agreement also stipulates that if a party does not express its intent to renew, the agreement would extend for an additional five years. The Maldives intends to retain sovereignty over its waters by developing its capacity and resources within the Maldives National Defense Force.

Moreover, President Mohamed Muizzu confirmed the Maldives’ intention to refrain from hosting foreign military presence after discussions with the Indian government. As a part of this, around 70 Indian troops stationed in the Maldives, along with maritime patrol aircraft and helicopters, are slated for withdrawal. The move aligns with Muizzu’s party’s campaign promise and underscores the Maldives’ commitment to maintaining respectful and secure relationships with other nations.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs confirmed mutual consent between India and the Maldives to establish a core group for the withdrawal of Indian troops from the Maldives. Earlier discussions between Prime Minister Modi and President Muizzu at the COP28 Summit in Dubai resulted in this collaborative decision, aiming to deepen bilateral relations while respecting each other’s strategic interests.

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