Surveillance of Maldives' vast maritime territory not a concern of 'external parties': Prez Muizzu

Maldives President boosts defense forces, deploys drones, emphasizes sovereignty, and reviews agreements with India.

Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu has said the surveillance of his country’s territory should not concern any “external parties” as he announced measures to boost its defence forces, including the maiden deployment of drones to guard the archipelagic nation in the Indian Ocean.

Mr. Muizzu's latest comments came while speaking at a ceremony to launch the Maldives National Defence Force's (MNDF) Air Corps and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), a press release by the President's Office said. He announced new initiatives to strengthen the Maldives' military capabilities at the ceremony.

The pro-China Maldivian leader's remarks came days after the first batch of Indian military personnel operating a helicopter gifted by India left the country after Mr. Muizzu stepped up his anti-India rhetoric. After assuming office last year, he had asked India to withdraw nearly 90 military personnel from the island nation.

Mr. Muizzu said the country is capable of monitoring its jurisdiction. "The Maldives isn't a small nation," he said, noting that the island nation stretches along nine hundred thousand square kilometres and is capable of monitoring its jurisdiction.

"Maldives is an independent and sovereign nation and that surveillance of the Maldives' jurisdiction should not concern any external parties," he said, without naming any country. He said this would not impede the Maldives’ close relations with all countries.

Mr. Muizzu said his government would double the capacity of the Coast Guard, expand the Air Corps fleet, and enhance land-based vehicles and platforms.

India agreed to replace the military personnel with civilians and continue the operations of two helicopters and a Dornier aircraft provided to the country for humanitarian and medical evacuation services.