Maldives wants stable Indian Ocean: Defence Minister Didi

Smita Sharma
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, January 25 

A conflict between India and China is undesirable and not in the interest of the strategically placed island nation of Maldives, Maldivian Defence Minister Mariya Ahmed Didi said on Friday.

She sought to allay concerns about Chinese presence in the archipelago nation which had increased during the previous Yameen regime.

“We are very much bent on keeping Indian Ocean as a safe protected zone where bigger powers do not engage in a way that could be detrimental to interests of our nation. We don’t believe that big powers should have any conflict in our region,” said Didi to reporters a day after her talks with Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

She reminded that India shares geographical proximity to Maldives and was always the first responder during times of crisis.

Accompanied by Chief of Defence Forces of Maldives Major General Abdulla Shamaal, Didi also underlined that the two Advanced Light Helicopters (ALHs) which had become a bone of contention between New Delhi and Maldives during Yameen’s rule, had an immense humanitarian contribution.

Yameen government had asked Delhi to take back the gifted helicopters when relations spiralled downwards last year.

Didi reminded that since resumption of the helicopter services, 10 lives have been saved of the 160 saved since they were pressed into operation.

“I cannot understand why it was stopped even for a short while and I don’t know how we can manage without those helicopters. On our islands, there is rough weather and at times sea ambulance doesn’t operate.” said Didi.

The Maldivian defence minister assured that with bilateral ties now stabilising, discussions and work has resumed on all infrastructure projects stalled since 2016, including the surveillance radars commissioned by India.

“With the relation resuming, we expect to have radars installed soon. Stability and security of our country is important for us. These radars will help protect our waters from illicit drug trafficking, help counter terrorism and illegal fishing in our waters.” she said.

Major General Shamaal added that Maldives in its discussions with India is focussed on trans-national threats and “threats that can be orchestrated by non-state actors and rogue elements” within the Indian Ocean.

Discussions are on for a Dornier aircraft that Maldives wants for search, rescue and surveillance operations in the waters.

Didi will witness the 70th Republic Day parade at Rajpath on Saturday.