4th Defence Cooperation Dialogue between India and Maldives held in Male

Tags: International Relations International News

India and Maldives held the 4th Defense Cooperation Dialogue (DCD) in Male on March 19, 2023.

An overview of the news

• The dialogue was co-chaired by Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane and his Maldivian counterpart, Chief of Defence Force Major General Abdulla Shamaal.

• During the talks, the ongoing bilateral defense cooperation activities were reviewed.

• The talks covered existing bilateral exercises, with both countries agreeing to increase the complexity of these exercises.

• There is bilateral cooperation between the armed forces of India and Maldives in a number of fields, a positive sign for the future of bilateral relations.

About Defense Cooperation Dialogue (DCD)

• The Defense Cooperation Dialogue is the highest institutionalized interactive mechanism between the two countries.

• The Dialogue is one of India’s policy-level frameworks that aim to strengthen long-standing and mutually beneficial bilateral defence ties.

• The first Defense Cooperation Dialogue was held in 2016 and the second in 2019.

• Since 1988, defense and security have been a major area of cooperation between India and Maldives.

• In 2016, the two countries signed a comprehensive action plan to strengthen defense partnership.

About Maldives

• It is also called Maldives Islands, an independent island country in the north-central Indian Ocean.

• It extends more than 510 miles (820 km) from north to south and 80 miles (130 km) from east to west.

• Basis of economy -fisheries, tourism

• Industries - handicraft or cottage including the making of coir (coconut-husk fibre) and coir products, fish canning, and boatbuilding.

• Capital -Male

• President -Ibrahim Mohamed Solih

• Official Language - Dhivehi (Maldivian)

• Official Religion - Islam

• Currency - Rufiyaa