Final Up to date: March 04, 2024, 19:06 IST
A Maldives nationwide flag flutters as pigeons fly previous in the course of the morning in Male February 8, 2012. (Reuters)
India reinforces its navy on strategically very important islands close to Maldives amid soured relations, with a brand new base geared toward extending operational surveillance
India has introduced plans for a brand new naval base on the “strategically necessary” Lakshadweep islands, situated near the Maldives, amid the continuing diplomatic tensions between New Delhi and Male.
The brand new base will prolong New Delhi’s “operational surveillance” of the world, the navy stated in an announcement late Saturday. This growth comes as ties between India and the Maldives have soured since pro-China President Mohamed Muizzu final 12 months.
.@indiannavy to fee Naval Detachment Minicoy as INS Jatayu on 06 Mar 24, marking important step in enhancing safety infrastructure at Lakshadweep Islands. It underscores India’s dedication to bolstering maritime capabilities within the area.Extra: pic.twitter.com/hVCF3PvCMW— A. Bharat Bhushan Babu (@SpokespersonMoD) March 2, 2024
March 6 opening
The brand new base, opening March 6 on Lakshadweep islands, will flip an current small detachment into an “unbiased naval unit”, in keeping with the navy’s assertion. Lakshadweep islands lie about 130 kilometres north of the Maldives, with the brand new naval base on the island of Minicoy located at their closest level. India’s navy already has a base on the Lakshadweep island of Kavaratti, however the brand new base will probably be about 258 kilometers nearer to the Maldives.
“Minicoy is the southernmost island of Lakshadweep which straddles the very important sea traces of communications,” the navy stated. The navy stated the bottom will increase anti-piracy and anti-narcotic operations, and was a part of a coverage to “incrementally increase safety infrastructure on the strategically necessary” islands.
India-Maldives relations turned bitter after Muizzu got here to energy final 12 months. After assuming energy, Muizzu visited China forward of India. In an obvious jibe at India, he additionally stated Maldives’ small measurement will not be a license for anybody to bully the nation.
In February, Muizzu requested India to exchange army personnel who function humanitarian service planes primarily based in Maldives with civilian technical workers. At the least 75 Indian army personnel are believed to be in Maldives, and their identified actions embrace transporting sufferers from distant islands and rescuing individuals at sea.
