New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih have jointly established an Indian built Coastal Surveillance Radar System (CSRS)  and a composite training facility of the Maldives National Defence Force.

The joint inauguration comes as the two nations sign on six agreements that include a technical agreement on sharing white shipping information between the Indian Navy and the Maldives National Defence Force. 

PM Modi’s Maldives' visit is his first foreign trip after being re-elected as the Prime Minister. His visit to the Indian Ocean island signifies the importance of India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy. This will strengthen bilateral ties.

The CSRS assists in creating a network of information to maritime domain awareness in the strategic Indian Ocean. It is a primary sensor for Integrated Coastal Surveillance System.

The establishment of such a system is important as China sees the Maldives as a key to its Maritime Silk Road project in the Indian Ocean. China has already acquired the Hambantota port in Sri Lanka and Djibouti in the Horn of Africa.