Maldives Decides not to renew the signed Hydrographic Survey Agreement with India

The Maldives has announced its decision not to renew the hydrographic survey agreement with India. The agreement, signed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit in June 2019, allowed India to conduct comprehensive studies of the Maldives’ territorial waters, including reefs, lagoons, coastlines, ocean currents, and tide levels.

Maldives’ Under Secretary for Public Policy, Mohamed Firuzul, stated that the decision aligns with the country’s sovereignty protection measures outlined in the ‘Hafthaa-14’ roadmap. The Maldivian President and Cabinet aim to retain information and data about the country’s waters within the nation, emphasizing the development of such capacities within the Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF).