Maldives drops hydrography agreement with India

Maldives has decided it will not renew an agreement signed with India during the former MDP administration to conduct hydrographic surveys of the country’s waters.

Maldives and India signed a Memorandum on Understanding on cooperation in the field of hydrography on June 8, 2019, during a visit by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

India has been conducting a hydrographic survey of the Maldivian territorial waters under the agreement; studying and charting reefs, lagoons, coastlines, and ocean currents and tide levels. 

PPM-PNC, which won the Maldives’ presidential election in September, has long voiced alarm that allowing a foreign government access to sensitive data about the Maldives could endanger the country’s national security.

In a press conference on Thursday afternoon, Mohamed Firuzul Abdul Khaleel, the Undersecretary for Public Policy at the President’s Office, announced the accomplishment of the 17 tasks promised for the first four weeks, under President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu administration’s ‘Haftha 14’ roadmap.

Firuzul said that this includes starting the process of repealing provisions on “secret bilateral agreements” signed by the former administration that endanger Maldives’ independence and sovereignty.

He said that the administration has decided against renewing the hydrography agreement, which expires on June 7, 2024.

“According to the terms of this agreement, if one party wishes to drop the agreement, the other party must be informed of the decision six months before the agreement is set to expire. According to the terms, the agreement automatically renews for an additional five years, otherwise,” he said.

Firuzul said that India has been informed that the Maldives does not wish to proceed with the agreement.

He said the president made the decision after consulting with his cabinet.

He said the administration believes it best for national security to improve the Maldivian military’s capacity to conduct such surveys, and protect such sensitive information.

Firuzul said that President Muizzu has decided to allocate a budget to improve the Maldives National Defense Force’s capacity.

“In the future, hydrography works will be carried out under 100 percent Maldivian management, and with only Maldivians privy to the information,” he said.