Months after Indian military personnel left the Maldives, a Maldivian ship has arrived in India for scheduled repairs.
In a sign of improving ties between the two nations after President Mohamed Muizzu toned down his ‘India Out’ campaign, Maldivian Coast Guard’s ship Huravee has arrived at Mumbai’s Naval Dockyard for repairs.
The repairs, estimated to cost $4 million, would be funded by India, according to ANI.
“The refit, which is the first since the ship was handed over to MNDF in May 2023, will involve routine maintenance work as well as upgrades to extend the ship’s operational life and enhance its capabilities”, said a statement by High Commission of India in Maldives, referring to the Maldivian military by its formal name Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF).
The decision for the repair of the ship was announced during Muizzu’s visit to India during October 6-10.
The refit and upgrades to the Huravee are expected to boost the operational capabilities of the Maldivian Coast Guard, enhancing the Maldives’ maritime security infrastructure, noted ANI.
Even as India-Maldives bilateral ties were derailed by Muizzu’s ‘India Out’ platform and his embrace of India’s archrival China, the relations slowly appear to be warming as Muizzu appears to have realised the limited scope of relations with China and the reality that you cannot antagonise India in South Asia and Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
Earlier this year, Muizzu had ordered around 90 Indian military personnel to leave the Maldives, who were there to maintain three military aircraft gifted by India to the Maldives. The aircraft were gifted for humanitarian and medical evacuations.
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