Exercise Ekatha:
Indian Navy divers and Marine Commandos are in the Maldives for the sixth edition of Exercise Ekatha.
- Exercise Ekatha is an annual exercise conducted between the navies of India and Maldives.
- Objective is to enhance interoperability in diving and special operations.
- The location of the Maldives, at the intersection of commercial sea-lanes running through the Indian Ocean, makes it strategically important for India, particularly in the light of China’s growing aggression in the region.
- India was among the first to recognise Maldives after its independence in 1965 and to establish diplomatic relations with the country.
- India established its mission at the level of CDA in 1972 and resident High Commissioner in 1980
- Maldives opened a full fledged High Commission in New Delhi in November 2004, at that time one of its only four diplomatic missions worldwide.
- India and Maldives signed a trade agreement in 1981, which provides for export of essential commodities.
- Since 1988, defence and security have been major areas of cooperation between India and Maldives.
- India provides the largest number of training opportunities for Maldivian National Defence Force (MNDF), meeting around 70 per cent of their defence training requirements.
- In 2016, the two countries also signed a comprehensive action plan to consolidate defence partnership.
