India
While the Sri Lankan ship was earlier part of the Indian Coast Guard, the Maldivian ship was recently overhauled and repaired in an Indian shipyard, in a bid to help neighbouring countries
New Delhi: After Maldives’ new government showed its preference for India over China during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit there, the Indian Coast Guard would be visiting the island nation for a trilateral exercise with its counterparts from the Maldives and Sri Lanka.
Indian Coast Guard chief Rajendra Singh, director general would be in Male for a three-day visit where his vessels including advanced offshore patrol vessel ICGS Samar and fast patrol vessel ICGS Aryaman would be taking part in the exercise along the island nation where drills would be carried out for secure and pollution free maritime zone, senior government sources told MyNation.
From the Sri Lankan side, one of their coast guard vessels SLCGS Raksha and Maldivian Coastguard ship Huravee would be taking part in the exercise.
While the Sri Lankan ship was earlier part of the Indian Coast Guard, the Maldivian ship was recently overhauled and repaired in an Indian shipyard, in a bid to help neighbouring countries.
Before the exercise commences, two Sri Lankan Navy officers will get on the job-training from India as they will embark on to the ICGS Samar from Kochi as it will leave for the Maldives.
The coast guard vessel will also drop them off at Colombo after completing its mission tasks in the exercise in the Maldives.
The Maldivian government is also extending the deployment of Indian Coast Guard and Indian Navy choppers in that country as during the previous pro-China regime, the Indian crew was being asked to return.
In a major diplomatic victory over China in the Indian Ocean Region, India has recently emerged as the tallest friend of the new establishment of the island nation.
The anti-Chinese voice could also be heard from the new administration's backers including former Maldivian President Mohammed Nasheed who has already stated that there would be a forensic audit of the Chinese-supported infrastructure projects which have resulted in huge debts on the smallest country in Asia.
The defeat of Abdulla Yameen, who was working closely with China and against Indian interests in Male, is also being seen as a major victory for India in its neighbourhood which is being poached by the Chinese for creating strategic outposts on the world's busiest sea lanes for trade and commerce.
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