India has gifted a fleet of 72 vehicles to the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF), marking a new milestone in bilateral defence cooperation between the two countries.
The symbolic handover took place at the President’s Office in Malé on July 25 during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official State visit to the Maldives. President Dr Mohamed Muizzu received the symbolic key from Prime Minister Modi in a brief ceremony held this afternoon.
This donation follows an agreement signed earlier this year between Maldives Defence Minister Mohamed Ghassan Maumoon and India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh during Minister Ghassan’s official visit to India.
The vehicle consignment includes a diverse set of operational and utility platforms for MNDF:
- 8 27-seater buses
- 10 pickup trucks
- 10 mini-vans
- 10 vans
- 5 lorries
- 8 tractors
- 4 tipper dump trucks
- 4 backhoe loaders
- 2 cranes
- 6 mini excavators
- 5 excavators
India stated that the vehicle donation is part of its commitment to enhancing the operational readiness and logistical capability of the MNDF. The gift reflects the growing strategic partnership and defence cooperation between the two nations.
Officials from both sides expressed confidence that this initiative would help bolster regional security and capacity-building efforts in the Maldives.
