The Maldives and Australia have held discussions on human resource development in the defence sector and maritime security.
The talks took place during a courtesy call by Australian Ambassador David Jessup on Defence and National Service Minister Hassan Rasheed.
According to the Defence Ministry, deliberations were held to deepen the bilateral defence cooperation, with a specific focus on collaborative efforts to safeguard maritime interests, capacity building, and regional stability.
The Minister extended his sincere appreciation for Australia’s longstanding contributions to the Maldivian defence sector and underscored the pivotal importance of expanding bilateral engagement to effectively address and safeguard shared security priorities.
Australia is noted as a key defence partner for the Maldives. The Australian government recently provided a Guardian-class patrol boat to the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) to support regional maritime security.