India Hands Over Key Spares To Maldives Coast Guard Ship Huravee, Deepens Defence Ties Amid Maritime Security Push

India has reinforced its maritime security partnership with the Maldives by handing over a consignment of critical operational spares for the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) Coast Guard Ship (MCGS) Huravee.

Senior defence leaders from both countries also held wide-ranging talks in Male to strengthen defence ties, counter drug trafficking, and enhance cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

How do the spares for Huravee enhance its operations?

The spares were formally handed over on Monday by Vice Admiral Tarun Sobti, Deputy Chief of Naval Staff (DCNS) of the Indian Navy, to the Maldives Chief of Defence Force, Major General Ibrahim Hilmy, during a ceremony onboard the Indian Navy ship INS Sharda in Male.

The move is aimed at boosting the operational readiness of Huravee, a key asset of the Maldivian Coast Guard, and underscores India’s continued commitment to regional maritime security under its Neighbourhood First policy and the MAHASAGAR vision.

What other issues were discussed by the two sides?

Alongside the handover, Vice Admiral Sobti paid a courtesy call on Major General Hilmy during his maiden visit to the Maldives.

According to the Indian Navy, discussions focused on addressing shared maritime security challenges, expanding training engagements, strengthening cooperation against drug trafficking, and enhancing maritime information sharing between the two navies.

Progress on ongoing bilateral defence projects and future avenues for deeper naval collaboration were also reviewed.

What was the Maldives’ reaction to the interaction?

Major General Hilmy described the interaction as an honour, noting that the talks reflected the close and growing defence relationship between India and the Maldives.

Both sides reiterated their intent to work closely to ensure security and stability in the IOR, a region of increasing strategic importance amid rising non-traditional threats such as narcotics trafficking, illegal fishing, and maritime crime.

What is MCGS Huravee?

MCGS Huravee has long symbolised India-Maldives defence cooperation. Originally commissioned into the Indian Navy as INS Tillanchang, a Trinkat-class patrol vessel, in March 2001, the ship was gifted to the Maldives by India in April 2006 to strengthen the island nation’s maritime surveillance and patrol capabilities.

Earlier this year, India completed a major refit of Huravee at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai, further extending its service life and enhancing its operational effectiveness.

What is India-Maldives military exercise Ekatha?

Vice Admiral Sobti’s visit also coincided with the closing ceremony of the eighth edition of the India-Maldives joint military exercise Ekatha, which was conducted in the Maldives.

The exercise, held in the MNDF Central Area Command, aimed to enhance interoperability and cooperation between the two forces to tackle shared maritime challenges.

How does the latest engagement build on earlier meetings?

The latest engagement builds on a series of high-level defence interactions in recent months. In October, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh visited Male, holding talks with Maldives Foreign Affairs Minister Abdulla Khaleel, Defence Minister Mohamed Ghassan Maumoon, and National Security Advisor Ibrahim Latheef.

Those discussions covered military cooperation, capacity building, defence equipment promotion, and emerging security challenges in the IOR. Singh also led the Indian delegation at the sixth Annual Defence Cooperation Dialogue between the two countries.

How do these engagements enhance India-Maldives ties?

India’s outreach to the Maldives is guided by its Neighbourhood First policy, which emphasises people-centric development, capacity building, and security cooperation with neighbouring countries.

Complementing this is the Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions (MAHASAGAR) doctrine, an expanded maritime vision announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in March 2025, building on the earlier SAGAR framework and extending India’s focus from the Indian Ocean to the wider Indo-Pacific and Global South.

Together, the handover of spares to Huravee and the renewed defence dialogue highlight New Delhi’s intent to remain a reliable security partner for Male, while jointly safeguarding the maritime commons of the Indian Ocean