VAdm Tarun Sobti, Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff (DCNS) of the Indian Navy, is on an official visit to the Maldives from 15 to 17 Dec 25 to attend the closing ceremony of Exercise Ekatha 2025. Established in 2017, Exercise Ekatha is an annual bilateral maritime exercise between the Indian Navy and the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF). The 8th edition included technical and combat diving, boarding operations, firing drills, demolition and explosive handling, asymmetric warfare tactics, and special heli-borne operation drills. In Male, VAdm Sobti met with Major General Ibrahim Hilmy, the Chief of Defence Force, MNDF, to discuss regional maritime security challenges, training engagements, cooperation against drug trafficking, and ongoing defence projects. Operational spares for MNDF Coast Guard Ship Huravee were handed over to Maj Gen Ibrahim Hilmy CDF, MNDF on INS Sharda at Male, Maldives on #15 Dec 25. The visit reaffirms the commitment to regional partners and cooperation between India and Maldives, aligned with India's MAHASAGAR vision. This information was released by PIB Delhi on 15 DEC 2025 at 8:10 PM.
Key Entities Referenced
Exercise Ekatha: Annual bilateral maritime exercise between the Indian Navy and the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF).
Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF): Military force of the Maldives; participant in Exercise Ekatha.
Indian Navy: Naval force of India; participant in Exercise Ekatha.
Male: Capital city of Maldives, location of meetings and handover ceremony related to defence cooperation.
Neighbourhood First policy: A foreign policy initiative of India that guides its relationship with nearby countries, particularly concerning defense and maritime cooperation.
Ministry of Defence
DCNS VISIT TO MALDIVES CLOSING
CEREMONY OF EXERCISE EKATHA - 2025
प्रव तथ: 15 DEC 2025 8:10PM by PIB Delhi
VAdm Tarun Sobti, Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff(DCNS), Indian Navy, is on an official visit to
Maldives from 15 to 17 Dec 25 to attend the closing ceremony of Ex Ekatha 2025.
Established in 2017, Exercise Ekatha is an annual bilateral maritime exercise between the Indian Navy
and the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF). The 8th edition of the exercise witnessed extensive
professional interactions aimed at enhancing interoperability and operational synergy. The activities
included technical and combat diving, boarding operations, firing drills, demolition and explosive
handling, asymmetric warfare tactics, and special heli-borne operation drills.
On arrival in Male, VAdm Sobti met the Chief of Defence Force, MNDF, Major General Ibrahim Hilmy.
The discussions focused on addressing regional maritime security challenges, enhancing training
engagements, strengthening cooperation against drug trafficking, and reviewing the progress of ongoing
defence projects. Avenues to further enhance maritime information sharing between the two navies were
also deliberated. DCNS also handed over a consignment of operational spares for MNDF Coast Guard
Ship Huravee to Maj Gen Ibrahim Hilmy CDF, MNDF in a function held onboard INS Sharda at Male,
Maldives on #15 Dec 25.
The maiden visit of the DCNS to Maldives reaffirms the Indian Navy’s steadfast commitment to regional
partners and underscores the strong defence and maritime cooperation between India and Maldives, in line
with India’s vision of 'Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth for all in the Region
(MAHASAGAR), and the Neighbourhood First policy.***
VM/SKS 276/25
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