Washington: The United States has signed a defence cooperation agreement with the Indian neighbour, Maldives, given the peace and security of the Indian Ocean region. US President Donald Trump has taken a stand to increase cooperation with the countries in this sector because of the increasing Chinese influence in the Indo-Pacific sector. The US defence ministry, Pentagon, informed that this cooperation was established against this background.
Reed Werner, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence for South and Southeast Asia, and Mariya Didi, the Defence Minister of Maldives, signed the defence cooperation agreement on 10th of September. The Pentagon has informed that both the countries have decided to strengthen the defence ties to ensure peace and stability in the Indian Ocean region. This agreement becomes vital in that respect. Maldivian Defence Minister Mariya Didi welcomed the defence agreement signed with the United States. Mariya Didi said that the defence agreement with the United States is an important milestone for the Maldives.
The Maldivian Defence Minister said that this cooperation would be necessary for controlling the increasing piracy in the Indian Ocean region, threats from the extremist and terrorist organisations and contraband marine trade. At the same time, the Maldivian Defence Minister informed that the United States would be assisting the Maldives in the fight against Coronavirus. Under this bilateral agreement, the United States will be helping the Maldives even for natural calamities and humanitarian aid. At the same time, the Pentagon clarified that the high-level meetings and discussions between the two countries would continue to increase the scope of this cooperation.
Meanwhile, China had planned to entangle the Maldives in its debt trap and strengthen the string of pearls against India. China made frantic efforts in this direction until 2018. But in 2018, after the new government came into power in the Maldives, no significant agreement has been signed with China. Instead, the Maldives government jolted China after remembering the long-standing cooperation with India. Now, Maldives has delivered another major jolt to China by signing a defence agreement with the United States.
Related posts:
Russian and Chinese naval vessels deployed in the waters of Senkaku islands
Japan plans to build aircraft carrier to counter China’s aggression
China-North Korea increase defence cooperation against the background of increased tension with the United States
US-China trade war accelerates decline of Chinese economy, China’s statistics misleading
Japan starts Crisis Response Headquarters to retaliate against China
Japanese economy suffers against the background of US-China trade war
China warns Philippines of serious consequences over South China Sea
China conspiring to put India’s neighbours in a debt trap, indicate analysts before the US Congress committee
