Defence Minister Ghassan Maumoon has stated that the Indian Coast Guard boarding team boarded Maldivian fishing vessels while they were operating within the Maldives' Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
Responding to questions from members during today's parliamentary sitting, Minister Ghassan said that it has been confirmed from various sources that Indian troops boarded the fishing vessels within Maldives territory.
"We have confirmed this information from official sources. We have a Defence Advisor, a Brigadier General, stationed in India. And India also has a Defence Advisor stationed in the Maldives. Additionally, there is a Maldives Coast Guard Liaison Officer at the Indian Navy Fusion Centre. Furthermore, through the Foreign Ministry, we have verified this information with the Indian High Commission in Male'," the Minister said.
The Minister stated that the tracking devices installed on the vessels also prove that the fishing boats were operating within Maldives territorial waters. He affirmed that both before and during the incident, the fishing vessels were operating within the Maldives' Exclusive Economic Zone.
The Minister explained that such incidents occur because the Maldives' maritime territory is vast and the state lacks adequate resources to monitor the area. He added that preventing such incidents requires enhancing the capabilities of the Maldivian military.
"The most important thing that can be done to stop such incidents is to establish the necessary capabilities within the Maldivian military to monitor the Maldives' territory. Providing assurance to other countries that the Maldives' maritime territory can be monitored 24 hours a day," the Minister said.
The Minister noted that President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu is working to acquire the resources needed to monitor the Maldives' maritime territory 24 hours a day, and expressed confidence that this effort will be successful.
