President Muizzu announced last night that Turkey has gifted the equipment necessary for the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) Air Corps as free aid, enabling surveillance of the Maldives' exclusive economic zone.

Speaking at a ceremony held at Maafaru International Airport to inaugurate the MNDF Air Corps and MNDF Unmsned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), President Muizzu expressed gratitude towards Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for his unwavering support to the Maldivian government in establishing the MNDF Air Corps.

President Muizzu also revealed that his proximity to the Turkish government facilitated a meeting with Bayraktar, a renowned company specializing in such equipment.

He emphasized that the use of cutting-edge technology from Bayraktar would enable the surveillance of the Maldives' exclusive economic zone with the latest available technology.

Furthermore, President Muizzu highlighted the significance of the MNDF Air Corps in monitoring the Maldives' vast ocean territory, encompassing 900,000 square meters within its Exclusive Economic Zone.

He acknowledged the country's historical reliance on foreign assistance for monitoring its territory due to a lack of independent surveillance capability.

However, he affirmed that with the establishment of the MNDF Air Corps and assistance from Turkey, Maldives would now independently surveil its territories and monitor its borders.

President Muizzu assured that the establishment of the MNDF Air Corps would eliminate delays in search and rescue operations.

With constant surveillance covering the entire 900,000 square meters of Maldives' exclusive economic zone, the President expressed confidence in the nation's ability to promptly locate and assist individuals at risk.