Japan has committed to enhancing maritime security in the Maldives through the provision of two harbour crafts to the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) Coast Guard, following the signing of an Exchange of Notes between the two governments.
The agreement was formalised in a ceremony attended by senior officials from both nations, with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Abdulla Khaleel, and the Ambassador of Japan to the Maldives, Ishigami Rumiko, signing the documents on behalf of their respective governments.
The support, delivered under Japan’s Economic and Social Development Programme, is valued at 400 million Japanese Yen—approximately USD 2.8 million. The funding aims to boost the operational readiness of the MNDF Coast Guard, enabling more effective responses to emergencies at sea.
Dr Khaleel, speaking at the signing ceremony, conveyed appreciation for Japan’s consistent support to the Maldives. He highlighted that the new harbour crafts would play a vital role in enhancing the Coast Guard’s ability to carry out search and rescue missions, enforce maritime law, and safeguard vulnerable coastal communities.
He also described the cooperation as a reflection of the shared commitment between the Maldives and Japan to maintaining a Free and Open Indo-Pacific, and acknowledged Japan’s ongoing contributions to national development and regional security. Dr Khaleel further welcomed Japan’s recent decision to appoint a Defence Attaché to the Maldives, noting it as a sign of deepening ties in the defence sector.
The signing was attended by senior representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Finance and Planning, and the Embassy of Japan in Malé.
