India has reaffirmed that the defence platforms it has provided to the Maldives, including the Dornier aircraft and helicopters, continue to operate in the country under the supervision of appropriate personnel, following the full withdrawal of Indian military troops.

At a press briefing on Tuesday, Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri addressed questions regarding India’s defence cooperation with the Maldives, particularly in relation to the personnel managing these platforms. 

Misri stated that India had been in close discussions with Maldivian authorities and had “provided clarity and assurances” on its intentions regarding bilateral cooperation.

His remarks come after the completion of a phased withdrawal of Indian military personnel earlier last year.

As per the timeline agreed upon by both governments, this was done in three phases and final withdrawal was completed on May 2024

The Indian military personnel were replaced with trained technical teams in non-military roles to ensure uninterrupted support for essential operations such as medical evacuations, maritime surveillance, and humanitarian missions.

The continued operation of these platforms, now under revised arrangements, reflects a collaborative effort by both countries to maintain critical services while respecting Maldives' domestic policy decisions.

 The current framework, developed through bilateral dialogue, upholds the Maldives’ emphasis on sovereignty and transparency in defence cooperation.