India’s Defence Minister recently handed over a Fast Patrol Vessel (FPV) and a Landing Craft Assault ship to the Maldives National Defence Forces (MNDF) as part of India’s continuing efforts towards capacity-building assistance in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
Challenges and Cooperation
The Defence Minister emphasized the need for collaborative efforts among nations in the IOR to deal with common challenges such as climate change and sustainable exploitation of maritime resources. He identified these as the most important common challenges faced by the region.
Significance of the Indian Ocean Region
The Indian Ocean region plays a crucial role in global trade, connecting the major engines of the international economy in the Northern Atlantic and Asia-Pacific. It is also rich in natural resources, including offshore oil production, fishing, and mineral resources such as nickel, cobalt, iron, zinc, and gold.
Strategic Importance for India
As the most populous country in the IOR, the Indian Ocean holds particular importance for India. India’s leadership role in the region is important in determining the strategic future not only for India but also for the rest of the Ocean’s littoral states.
India-Maldives Relations
India and Maldives share ethnic, linguistic, cultural, religious, and commercial links. The two nations have consistently supported each other in multilateral areas such as the UN, the Commonwealth, the NAM, and the SAARC. They have also signed various Memorandums of Understanding covering areas such as hydrography, health, and capacity building in customs and civil service training.
Strategic Importance of Maldives
The Maldives holds strategic importance for India under its ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy due to its location in the Indian Ocean. The Maldives archipelago comprising 1,200 coral islands lies next to key shipping lanes, ensuring uninterrupted energy supplies to countries like China, Japan, and India.
Trade and Economy
India and Maldives signed a trade agreement in 1981, which provides for the export of essential commodities. India provides essential food items and construction material to the Maldives on favorable terms. India and Maldives also signed an $800 million Line of Credit Agreement in March 2019 to assist the Maldives in achieving sustainable social and economic development.
Development Assistance Programme
India has helped the Maldives in many diverse areas to bolster its development, including the Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital, Maldives Institute of Technical Education, and Technology Adoption Programme in the Education Sector. India has also provided assistance in the development of a port on Gulhifalhu, airport redevelopment at Hanimaadhoo, and a hospital and a cricket stadium in Hulhumale.
India’s Crucial Help to the Maldives
India has helped the Maldives in times of crisis, including Operation Cactus, which prevented a coup attempt by a group of Maldivians in 1988, and Operation Neer, which was initiated by the Indian government to help the Maldives after a major fire broke out at the Male Water and Sewerage Company.
Diaspora
There are 25,000 Indian nationals living in the Maldives, contributing to the cultural and economic ties between the two countries.
Important Points:
- 🛥️ India’s Defence Minister handed over a Fast Patrol Vessel and Landing Craft Assault ship to the Maldives National Defence Forces as part of India’s efforts towards capacity-building assistance in the Indian Ocean Region.
- 🌍 The Defence Minister emphasized the need for collaborative efforts among nations in the Indian Ocean Region to deal with common challenges such as climate change and sustainable exploitation of maritime resources.
- 💎 The Indian Ocean region plays a crucial role in global trade, connecting the major engines of the international economy in the Northern Atlantic and Asia-Pacific. It is also rich in natural resources.
- 🇮🇳 India’s leadership role in the region is important in determining the strategic future not only for India but also for the rest of the Ocean’s littoral states.
- 🤝 India and Maldives share ethnic, linguistic, cultural, religious, and commercial links. They have also signed various Memorandums of Understanding covering areas such as hydrography, health, and capacity building.
- 🌊 The Maldives holds strategic importance for India due to its location in the Indian Ocean, next to key shipping lanes, ensuring uninterrupted energy supplies to countries like China, Japan, and India.
- 💰 India provides essential food items and construction material to the Maldives on favorable terms. India and Maldives also signed an $800 million Line of Credit Agreement in March 2019 to assist the Maldives in achieving sustainable social and economic development.
- 🏢 India has helped the Maldives in many diverse areas to bolster its development, including the Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital, Maldives Institute of Technical Education, and Technology Adoption Programme in the Education Sector.
- 🆘 India has helped the Maldives in times of crisis, including Operation Cactus and Operation Neer.
- 🇮🇳 There are 25,000 Indian nationals living in the Maldives, contributing to the cultural and economic ties between the two countries.
Why In News
The Defence Minister recently handed over a Fast Patrol Vessel (FPV) and a Landing Craft Assault ship to the Maldives National Defence Forces (MNDF) as part of India’s ongoing efforts towards capacity-building assistance in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). The FPV, designed to conduct coastal and offshore surveillance at high speeds, was commissioned as MNDF Coast Guard ship Huravee.
MCQs about India-Maldives Cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region
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What is the strategic importance of the Indian Ocean Region for India?
A. It is the most populous country in the region
B. It is a major hub for offshore oil production
C. It connects the major engines of the international economy
D. It has vast reserves of mineral resources
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What is the significance of the Maldives for India?
A. It is the most populous country in the Indian Ocean Region
B. It holds strategic importance for India under its ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy
C. It is a major hub for offshore oil production
D. It is a key exporter of mineral resources to India
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What is the purpose of India’s capacity-building assistance in the Indian Ocean Region?
A. To promote sustainable exploitation of maritime resources
B. To help countries deal with common challenges like climate change
C. To enhance India’s military capabilities in the region
D. To establish India as a dominant player in the global economy
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What is the trade agreement between India and Maldives?
A. An agreement for the export of essential commodities
B. An agreement for the import of luxury goods
C. An agreement for the export of mineral resources
D. An agreement for the import of construction material
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