India, Maldives discuss defence ties, security in Indian Ocean

NEW DELHI: India and Maldives on Thursday discussed ways to deepen defence and strategic cooperation between the two countries. The army said that G Balasubramanian met Upendra Dwivedi in New Delhi to review the evolving regional security environment. According to the army’s additional directorate General of Public Information (ADG PI), the two sides explored measures to further strengthen defence and diplomatic ties between the two countries.The discussions focused on enhancing bilateral cooperation and assessing security developments in the Indian Ocean region, where India and the Maldives maintain close strategic engagement. The meeting comes amid continuing diplomatic and defence interactions between the two neighbours aimed at reinforcing their long-standing partnership.Earlier, Maldives minister of state for tourism and environment Muaviyath Mohamed highlighted the close ties between the two countries, describing India and the Maldives as natural partners. “India and the Maldives have had very good relations from the very beginning. The fact of the matter is, we are the closest neighbours. That fact will remain as it is. We are working in a very close manner, respecting each other and collaborating for the benefit of both countries,” he said.Mohamed had said both nations were working together on sustainable development, market reforms and broader global challenges, with cooperation increasing in recent years.He had also described India as a reliable partner in environmental initiatives, particularly in areas such as technology sharing, knowledge transfer and capacity building.Meanwhile, naval cooperation has also continued to expand. Earlier this month, deputy chief of naval staff vice admiral Tarun Sobti met Maldives coast guard commandant brigadier general Mohamed Saleem to discuss maritime cooperation and regional security.The Indian Navy said the interaction highlighted the importance of the Indian Ocean region and reaffirmed the strong maritime partnership between the two countries. Continued engagements during Exercise MILAN 2026 further reinforced cooperation and interoperability at sea.