Maldives govt dilutes ties with India further by not renewing Hydrographic Pact

The new Maldives government has decided it will not renew an agreement signed with India that sought cooperation for conducting hydrographic surveys of the country's waters, a move that is being seen as the first step towards diluting the strategic partnership.

The country's previous government, headed by Maldivian Democratic Party, had signed the agreement with India in 2019 during a visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

India has been studying and charting Maldivian reefs, lagoons, coastlines, ocean currents and tide levels as part of the hydrographic surveys.


PPM-PNC, which won the Maldives' presidential election in September, has long alleged that "allowing a foreign government access to sensitive data could endanger the country's national security".

In a press conference in Male on Thursday, Md Firuzul Abdul Khaleel, undersecretary for public policy at the President's Office, announced the accomplishment of the 17 tasks promised for the first four weeks under President Mohamed Muizzu administration's 'Haftha 14' roadmap.

Firuzul said that this includes starting the process of repealing provisions on "secret bilateral agreements" signed by the former administration, which the new government thinks endanger Maldives' independence and sovereignty.

He said that the administration has decided against renewing the hydrography agreement, which expires on June 7, 2024.

He said the administration believes it best for national security to improve the Maldivian military's capacity to conduct such surveys and protect such sensitive information.

Earlier this month, in their maiden meeting held in Dubai, Modi and Muizzu discussed the issue of India's military presence in the Maldives. They also decided that the bilateral core group set up by the two leaders will discuss operational matters of Indian military platforms engaged in humanitarian missions.

The Maldivian side has acknowledged the utility of Indian platforms. The fact that it is an important segment of bilateral development partnership is recognised by both sides.

Last month, Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) carried out medical evacuations using a Dornier aircraft and a helicopter provided by India.

Pertinently, India has not stationed any "armed" troops in the Maldives. It only has crews and technicians for its patrol vessel, Dornier aircraft and two Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH), all adorned in Maldivian colours. These assets have played a crucial role in humanitarian missions in the Maldives.

Of the total 77 Indian military personnel in the Maldives, 24 manage the first helicopter, 26 the second helicopter, 25 Indians manage the Dornier aircraft and two personnel are stationed for maintenance and engineering, ET had reported earlier.

A small Indian contingent of navy and coast guard personnel is stationed at MNDF bases at Hanimaadhoo in the north, Kadhdhoo in the centre of the country and Addu Atoll in the south.

India first gifted two Dhruv ALHs to the Maldives in 2010 and 2015.