Maldives does not need Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) that India had earlier gifted. A top government source from the island is learned by way of The Times of India that a Dornier maritime surveillance aircraft is being looked for.
Male has returned one of the two such naval helicopters to New Delhi, gesturing further the relationship between Maldives and India is not smooth.
The worrying fact for Indian government is that Maldives has allowed China to make strategic inroads.
In recent updates the country has handed over airport project to China even though an Indian company had won the contract. More to this, Free Trade Agreement has been signed between the two countries and a Chinese embassy has been opened too.
Apart from all these, it is lately rumored China may be building up a naval base in one of the islands of Maldives.
Late last month Maldivian Ambassador to China Mohamed Faisal said India is like a brother where as China for them is like a long-lost cousin found.
Faisal further added that they have failed to get the necessary finance from India even after taking several projects.
During the recent political crisis China supported Maldives President Abdulla Yameen and enabled him to stay in power even though there was international pressure against him.
The president had imposed state of emergency, which was lifted on Marcy 22, during the crisis and detained apex court judges as well as former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom.
Maldives has 26 tropical atolls and 1,000 small islands.
The post Maldives-India Relation Deteriorates Further; Returns Gifted Helicopter appeared first on Newspack by India Press Agency.
