India has dismissed allegations made by Maldivian Defence Minister Ghassan Maumoon, who asserted that Indian military helicopter pilots in the Maldives conducted an unauthorized operation in 2019. The High Commission of India in the Maldives released a statement on social media asserting that Indian aviation platforms in the Maldives always operate according to agreed procedures and with due authorization. The statement clarified that the specific sortie on October 9, 2019, was undertaken with the approval of the MNDF. The MNDF is the Maldives National Defence Force. The statement added that an emergency landing at Thimarafushi was necessary due to an unforeseen exigency and was carried out after obtaining necessary on-ground approvals from the ATC to ensure the safety and security of the platform and crew. This clarification follows the recent withdrawal of 76 Indian military personnel from the Maldives, prompted by a demand from President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.Relations between India and the Maldives have strained since Muizzu, a seemingly pro-China leader, assumed office in November 2023. President Solih had set a deadline of May 10 for the removal of Indian military troops from the country. The final group of Indian personnel left the Maldives on the agreed deadline in February in New Delhi. In response to the Indian statement, Maumoon recounted an incident where one of two helicopters operated by Indian military personnel in the Maldives landed in Thimarafushi without permission. He stated that the incident was reviewed by the Parliament’s Committee on National Security Services when he was a lawmaker. However, the Indian mission refuted this claim. During the same press conference, Maumoon also admitted that the Maldives military still lacks the capacity to operate three aircraft donated by India. Indian military personnel had been stationed in the Maldives to operate two helicopters and a Dornier aircraft, primarily for medical evacuations. The Maldives is a crucial maritime neighbor for India in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and holds a significant place in initiatives such as ‘SAGAR’ (Security and Growth for All in the Region) and the ‘Neighbourhood First Policy’ of the Indian government.
India Denies Unauthorized Helicopter Operation Allegations in Maldives
