Maldives, India to Hold Talks on Defence Cooperation

Maldives Defence Minister Mohamed Ghassan Maumoon will meet Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in New Delhi on Wednesday to review bilateral defence cooperation, including training, exercises, and defence equipment supply. This is the first high-level defence meeting since President Mohamed Muizzu took office in November 2023. The talks occur over eight months after India withdrew military personnel from Maldives. Relations have been strained since Muizzu's election, worsened by derogatory social media comments by three deputy ministers in January 2024, but have improved following visits by India's External Affairs Minister and President Muizzu to India in October. Maumoon will also meet senior officials and visit Goa and Mumbai during his three-day visit.

Maldives Defence Minister Mohamed Ghassan Maumoon will meet Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in New Delhi on Wednesday to review bilateral defence cooperation, including training, exercises, and defence equipment supply. This is the first high-level defence meeting since President Mohamed Muizzu took office in November 2023. The talks occur over eight months after India withdrew military personnel from Maldives. Relations have been strained since Muizzu's election, worsened by derogatory social media comments by three deputy ministers in January 2024, but have improved following visits by India's External Affairs Minister and President Muizzu to India in October. Maumoon will also meet senior officials and visit Goa and Mumbai during his three-day visit.

Maldives Defence Minister Mohamed Ghassan Maumoon will meet Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in New Delhi on Wednesday to review bilateral defence cooperation, including training, exercises, and defence equipment supply. This is the first high-level defence meeting since President Mohamed Muizzu took office in November 2023. The talks occur over eight months after India withdrew military personnel from Maldives. Relations have been strained since Muizzu's election, worsened by derogatory social media comments by three deputy ministers in January 2024, but have improved following visits by India's External Affairs Minister and President Muizzu to India in October. Maumoon will also meet senior officials and visit Goa and Mumbai during his three-day visit.

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