6.2. Security

♤ The location of Maldives in the Indian ocean makes it important from the perspective of maritime security. It is situated in a mid-way between Strait of Malacca and Suez, which are the world’s busiest trade routes and thousands of cargoes pass through these trade routes.

♤ At the same time, as Kerala and Lakshadweep are in close proximity to the Maldivian islands, there are always India’s concerns about the possible use of Maldives’ territory against it.

♤ Maldives also occupies a special place in India’s foreign policy priority list because of increasing cases of piracy in the Indian Ocean near Somalia and Strait of Malacca, which has made the position of Maldives very important for establishing Naval bases for security in the Indian Ocean.

♤ The Trilateral Maritime Security Co-operation Initiative was launched by India, Sri Lanka and Maldives in October 2011 at Male during the first National Security Adviser (NSA) level meeting on the subject. This initiative involved the three littoral states to enhance maritime security in the neighborhood. There were two subsequent meetings in 2013 and 2014.

♤ In 2014 it was decided that next meeting would be held in Maldives. However, it remains to be held.

♤ Prime Minister Modi was also scheduled to visit Maldives as part of his visit to the other three Indian Ocean countries that took place in March 2015, but it was cancelled at the last moment due to internal political developments in the Maldives.

♤ India has espoused SAGAR – Security and Growth for all in the Region – vision for the Indian ocean

♤ Indo-Maldivian Action Plan for defence that was concluded in 2016, The Action Plan envisages an institutional mechanism at the level of the Defence Secretaries to further bilateral defence cooperation, according to the Ministry of External Affairs. Development of ports, continuous training, capacity building

♤ India has installed three Coastal Surveillance Radar Systems in Maldives and had plans to setup 10 more such facilities. However, further movement on this front has been delayed by recent events in Maldives.