India has handed over the Expanded Coastal Surveillance Radar System to the Maldives.
Indian Minister of External Affairs Dr. S. Jaishankar inaugurated the radar system with Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid at a special ceremony held in Addu City and handed over operations to Chief of Defence Force Major General Abdulla Shamaal.
Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) stated the Expanded Coastal Surveillance Radar System was built in two phases with free aid from the Government of India. The radar system will cover 10 areas in the Maldives and will be operated by trained Coast Guard officers.
Speaking at the ceremony, Major General Shamaal said the radar system will elevate the search and rescue capabilities of the MNDF as well as the monitoring of illegal activities at sea, thereby increasing greater maritime domain awareness. He thanked India for its continued assistance to the Maldives defence sector.
In addition, Minister Jaishankar said the extended radar system is a product of the Maldives-India partnership for regional security and a fine example of India’s Neighbourhood First Policy, as well as a strong statement of the special partnership between the two countries.