In a move that signifies Maldives' strategic shift away from India, President Mohamed Muizzu-led government has signed a $37 million drone deal with Turkiye to patrol its high seas—a task that was previously undertaken by New Delhi in partnership with Male. 

Maldivian media Adhadhu reported quoting government sources that under the deal, the Turkish military would supply Bayraktar TB2 drones, which are currently being used by Ukraine against Russia. 

It was further reported that the Maldives Finance Ministry has already released part of the payment to the Maldives Defence National Force (MNDF). Male will reportedly pay Ankara in installments over 2024 by tapping into its 'contingency' reserve. 

It comes days after Muizzu's visit to Beijing during which he, without referring to India, said that Maldives is not located in the backyard of any country. 

"Even though our islands are small, we are a huge country with a very large exclusive economic zone of nine lakh square kilometres. Maldives is one country that holds the largest proportion of this ocean. This ocean is not the property of a specific country," he said while speaking to reporters at the Velana International Airport (VIA) on January 13. 

"We have begun the work to build our power and our capacity to do continuous surveillance of the nine-lakh square kilometer exclusive economic zone. Hopefully, soon we will establish our capacity to manage this vast area," he added. 

After concluding his visit, Muizza, who is perceived to be pro-China, in a statement asked the Indian troops to leave Maldives territory by March 15. The Indian contingent is currently in the Maldives for the operation and maintenance of two helicopters and a Dornier aircraft. The helicopters were used for transport of patients from various islands of the archipelago nation to hospitals in Malé, which has saved over 500 lives till now. The Dornier carried out reconnaissance flights by the Maldivian military against suspicious ships, gun and narcotics trafficking.

Turkey has been at the forefront of drone warfare and has emerged as one of the biggest exporters of drones, both armed and unarmed. The two leading Turkish companies in drone manufacturing are Baykar Defense, owned by the son-in-law of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), owned by a Turkish military foundation.

Maldives is one of New Delhi’s key maritime neighbours in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and part of its ‘Neighbourhood First Policy’. But ties between Male and New Delhi have been strained ever since President Muizzu came to power last year.

Under then-President Abdulla Yameen of the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), Male had signed a Comprehensive Action Plan for Defence in 2016 with New Delhi. When the lease for these helicopters expired in 2018, the Yameen government asked New Delhi to take them back. However, after pro-India Ibrahim Mohamed Solih of the Maldivian Democratic Party came to power in September that year, these demands were revoked.

Image Source: NCS