India-Maldives ties truly special, Withstood test of time: Rajnath Singh

TIL Desk/National/New Delhi/ Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday handed over a fast patrol vessel and a landing craft to the Maldives as India’s gift at an event in Male even as he and Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih held talks to expand the already close bilateral strategic ties.

In his address at the ceremony in presence of top civil and military brass of the island nation, Mr Singh said the India-Maldives relationship is “truly special” and that it has evolved as a model for the entire region to follow.

The Defence Minister also highlighted the need for India, the Maldives and other like-minded nations of the region to enhance cooperation in addressing the common challenges in the Indian Ocean Region. At the handing-over ceremony, President Solih commissioned the offshore patrol vessel into the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF).

“The India-Maldives relationship is truly special. Our relationship has withstood the test of time and we have always supported each-other in the hours of need,” Mr Singh said at the handing-over ceremony.