India Sends Naval Vessel to petrol Joint Exclusive Economic Zone Surveillance of Maldives
Maldives has been creating ripples in the backyard of Indian Ocean and the current is all felt and jolts the status in quo of the long drawn heritage of India’s foreign and trade policies in the region. After a month of the crisis in Maldives, India has moved forward, hinting the ease of anxiety in the waters of Indian Ocean. Indian Naval (IN) ship Sumedha, a Naval Offshore Patrol Vessel (NOPV), has been deployed to undertake joint EEZ surveillance of Maldives from 09 to 17 May 18, as part of Indian Navy’s ‘Mission Based Deployments’.
Maldives has been creating ripples in the backyard of Indian Ocean and the current is all felt and jolts the status in quo of the long drawn heritage of India’s foreign and trade policies in the region.
President of Maldives Abdulla Yameen called a state of emergency in the month of February, ordering the arrest of senior Supreme Court judges among others. Along, a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with China concluded in haste and kept India at lurch, bypassing the all existing wistfulness with India.
To twist the knife in the wound, India was asked to stay away from the ‘Internal Conflict’ of Maldives. ‘India’s first’ policy of Maldives seemed to be withering away while China was discharging the barrage of threats towards India –straight and raucous- that Beijing would retaliate if New Delhi unilaterally decides to send troops to the crisis-hit Maldives.
The Pearl of India’s Global Trade
UNCTAD, Review of Maritime Transport 2015, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, Geneva, 2015 reaffirms the geo-economic importance of the Indian Ocean derives from the growing importance of Asia in the world economy. More than 60 per cent of all oil and petroleum product exports are shipped through the Indian Ocean waters and over 70 per cent of global container traffic is carried through the waters of this ocean. The share of trans-Atlantic trade in world trade has been declining, that of the trans-Pacific remains static while the share of Indian Ocean trade is growing.
Indian Naval (IN) ship Sumedha, a Naval Offshore Patrol Vessel (NOPV), is to undertake joint EEZ surveillance of Maldives from 09 to 17 May 18, as part of Indian Navy’s ‘Mission Based Deployments’. The ship would undertake an Operational Turnaround (OTR) at Male from 11 to 12 May 2018, during which the ship would interact and impart training to Maldives’ National Defence Forces (MNDF) personnel. Sumedha would also embark MNDF personnel onboard and undertake joint EEZ surveillance of Maldives from 12 to 15 May 2018. The MNDF personnel would be disembarked at Male, on completion of the EEZ surveillance.
Two officers and eight sailors of the Indian Navy’s Marine Commando (MARCO) cadre are currently conducting the 2nd Asymmetric Warfare Training Exercise ‘Ekatha 2018’ at Maldives, from 28 Apr to 15 May 2018. The exercise is being held at Composite Training Centre, Maafilhafushi, which is about 145 km North of Male. During the exercise training on various diving related issues including use and maintenance of diving equipment, medical emergencies, etc, are being imparted to MNDF personnel. The Indian Ambassador to Maldives was also present at the training exercise on 06 and 07 May 2018. IN ship Sumedha would de-induct the IN MARCOs Training Team from Male on 15 May 2018.
“The Joint EEZ surveillance of Maldives is an endeavour of the Government of India and the Indian Navy to ensure the safety and security of the vast EEZ of the island nation”, statement issued from the India, that is critical thread of the continuum to bring back the layers of high relations.
