New Delhi: The Maldivian govt has finalized a USD 37-million deal with Turkey to buy military drones to surveillance its high seas – a work so far done by India in partnership with the Maldivian defence forces.
The decision comes after President Mohamed Muizzu’s 15 March ultimatum for 77 Indian military personnel to leave the island nation. Muizzu came to power last September, capitalizing on anti-India rhetoric and ‘India out’ campaign.
Interestingly, the Indian officers stationed in Maldives were those who operate and manage two Dhruv Advanced Light combat Helicopters and a india gifted Dornier aircraft to the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF), as well as training the Maldivian military.
The helicopters were used for emergency airlift of patients from various islands of the archipelago nation to hospitals in Malé, which has saved over 500 lives till now. Meanwhile, the Dornier carried out reconnaissance flights by the Maldivian military surveilling suspicious ships, gun and narcotics trafficking.
These will now be replaced by Turkish drones – likely the Aksungur drones which are utilised for maritime operations and surveillance.
Maldivian media Adhadhu reported that the money for the Turkish drones has been allocated from the state’s contingency budget. Quoting government sources, it said the Finance Ministry has already released part of the payment to the MNDF.
It added that under the agreement inked by the Maldives government with a company which supplies drones to the Turkish military, the money will be paid via instalments. As per the agreement, the payment for the deal must be done within this year.
Turkey is a leading player of drone warfare and has emerged as one of the biggest exporters of drones, both armed and unarmed.
The two leading Turkish companies in drone manufacturing are Baykar Defense, owned by the son-in-law of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), owned by a Turkish military foundation.
Maldives is one of New Delhi’s crucial maritime neighbours in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and part of its ‘Neighbourhood First Policy’. However ties between Male and New Delhi have going through very difficult phase since President Muizzu assumed power last year.
The President, perceived as “pro-China” broke precedent and went to Turkey as part of his first state visit to a foreign country instead of India. Further, he has also made a state visit to China.
Under previous-President Abdulla Yameen of the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), Male had signed a Comprehensive Action Plan for Defence in 2016 with New Delhi. When the lease for these helicopters expired in 2018, the Yameen government asked New Delhi to take them back.
However, after pro-India Ibrahim Mohamed Solih of the Maldivian Democratic Party came to power in September that year, these demands were revoked.
