India assures Maldives of being net security provider

NEW DELHI: Amid increasing Chinese influence in Maldives, India has assured the archipelago nation that New Delhi will remain its net security provider.

The assurance was given during a meeting held between visiting Maldivian Defence and National Security Minister Adam Shareef and his Indian counterpart Manohar Parrikar here last evening.

The two sides also decided to deepen and broaden their defence cooperation, defence sources said.

"We have told them that we will continue to be their net security provider besides helping them in other areas like health, education among others," the sources said.

The development comes at a time when the Chinese are increasing their footprints in the Maldives.

China is funding several infrastructure projects across the Maldives. The Maldivian government's electoral pledges, like building a bridge between capital Male and the airport island of Hulhule and development of its main international airport, hinge on soft loans being considered by Beijing.

Chinese businesses, mostly state-owned corporations, have recently forayed into the Maldives with investments in areas such as the upmarket luxury tourism industry.

The Maldives also held its second investment forum in the Chinese capital last November.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had, during her visit to the Maldives in October 2015, said that India will always be the net security provider to the Indian Ocean country.

She had, however, stressed that it was important to insulate both the countries from trends towards radicalisation and terrorism.