No thaw in Maldives chill, snubs India’s naval drill
Navy chief Admiral Sunil Lanba cautioned “weaker nations” on Tuesday to be watchful of the “intent under the garb of cooperation” of their economically and militarily superior partners, on a day it emerged that the Maldives has refused to be a part of an India-led naval exercise.
His comments in the presence of defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman come at a time ties between India and the Maldives are frosty and China is making aggressive efforts to increase its influence in the Indian Ocean region, including the archipelago nation where Beijing plans to set up an observatory post.
“Opaqueness of intent on the part of certain powerful nations can gradually jeopardise the very sovereignty of the weaker partner,” Lanba said in his opening address at the Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue on Tuesday.
Lanba didn’t name China or the Maldives in his speech before an international audience. He told reporters the Maldives declined an invite to the Milan exercise being held off the Andamans in early March without giving any reason.
The navy has sent out invites to 23 countries of which 16 have confirmed their participation.
Reacting to Lanba’s statement, the Maldives embassy in Delhi said, “The Maldives is unable to participate in the naval exercise during this time due to the current circumstances of a state of emergency being in effect for those under investigation for serious crimes.” It added security personnel are expected to be at a heightened stance of readiness during such a time.
India’s ties with the Maldives plummeted after the Indian Ocean nation imposed emergency and cracked down on the judiciary, refusing to implement a Supreme Court.
NEW DELHI: