Barely a month after asking India to withdraw its military personnel from Maldives, President Mohamed Muizzu’s government has decided to break another agreement. Muizzu’s government has decided that the agreement to conduct a hydrographic survey of the territorial waters of Maldives will not be renewed.
This agreement was signed on June 8, 2019, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Maldives at the invitation of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. According to the agreement, India was allowed to conduct hydrographic surveys (hydrographic surveys) of the territorial waters of the Maldives, study and chart reefs, lagoons, beaches, ocean currents and tide levels. This is the first bilateral agreement the newly elected Maldivian government is officially ending.
India Has Been Informed
Mohamed Firuzul Abdul Khaleel, Secretary for Public Policy in the Office of the President of Maldives, said during a press conference on Thursday (December 14) that the Muizzu government has decided not to renew the hydrographic agreement. The term of this agreement expires on June 7, 2024. He further said, “As per the terms of this agreement, if one party wants to leave the deal, the other party must be informed about the decision 6 months before the expiry of the agreement. Firuzul said India has been informed that Maldives does not want to proceed with the agreement.”
Decision Taken After Consultation With Cabinet
According to Maldives news outlet The Sun, Muizzu decided after consulting his cabinet. The Sun quoted Firuzul as saying that the administration believes national security should improve the ability of the Maldivian military to conduct such surveys and protect such sensitive information.
“In the future, hydrography work will be done under 100 per cent Maldivian management, and information will be provided only to the people of Maldives,” he said. Earlier this month, Muizzu said the Indian government had agreed to withdraw its troops from Maldives.
