In yet another blow to China, navies from India and Maldives participated in the fourth edition of Ekatha exercise, with Male making a statement that it is India and not China which will serve as the net security provider of Maldives. A pivotal nation in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), Maldives is strategically located close to key international shipping lanes.

In a meeting with Vice Admiral Anil Kumar Chawla, Flag Officer, Commanding in Chief, Southern Naval Command of the Indian Navy on Sunday, the Maldives Foreign Affairs Minister Abdulla Shahid not only reflected on the “historically strong bilateral relations” between the two countries, particularly in the field of defence and security cooperation, but also discussed in detail the “emerging security threats” in the region.