Reaffirming India’s commitment to regional maritime security and humanitarian efforts, INS Sharda, an offshore patrol vessel of the Indian Navy, arrived at Maafilaafushi Atoll in the Maldives to participate in a Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) exercise scheduled from 04 to 10 May 2025. The deployment also seems to underline the importance of the deep-rooted diplomatic ties shared between Indian and the Maldives while allowing the nation to emerge as a pivotal backer in the IOR region, especially regarding coastal safety and regional stability.
The recent deployment is also a part of the strategic multilateral initiative of the Indian Armed Forces, under the MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions) doctrine. It calls for collective maritime security and sustainable development of the countries in the Indian Ocean region. This is already in line with other initiatives by the navy, such as the Africa India Key Maritime Engagement (AIKEYME), and the SAGAR Initiative. The presence of INS Sharda in the Maldives also serves as a symbol of the joint operational preparedness of both countries.
How Does INS Sharda Play A Key Role In Indian-Maldives Diplomatic Ties?
INS Sharda reaches Maafilaafushi to participate in maiden India-Maldives Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Exercise to strengthen our collaborative capabilities
🇮🇳 🤝🇲🇻@HQ_IDS_India@IndianNavy@IndianDiplomacy@MNDF_Official @MDVinINDIA @MEAIndia pic.twitter.com/VoSwcXGK1Y
— India in Maldives (@HCIMaldives) May 4, 2025
The High Commission of India in the Maldives shared the news of the INS Sharda arriving at Maafilaafushi on a social media platform. The objective of this bilateral HADR exercise is to strengthen interoperability between the Indian Navy and the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF). Furthermore, the exercise is also supposed to include a wide array of coordinated activities aimed at developing a comprehensive response mechanism in the event of a natural disaster or humanitarian emergency faced by either nation.
The key components of the week-long engagement are as follows:
- Joint Disaster Response Coordination: Both teams will engage in simulating real-world disasters and train in various scenarios to enhance their joint decision-making and planning capabilities.
- Carry out Search and Rescue (SAR) Drills: They will be conducting joint SAR training drills to improve overall efficiency in locating and assisting disaster victims in maritime and coastal zones.
- Aid and Evacuation Training: The teams will also practice setting up and running medical camps to coordinate casualty evacuation protocols while attempting to deliver prompt medical assistance.
- Logistics and Supply Chain Management: The exercise will also focus on an effective demonstration of relief material distribution and managing logistics and supply chain during an emergency.
- Coordinating with Local Civilian Authorities and Community Outreach: The final phase of these HADR exercises will be to implement a system of civilian authorities coordination and reach out to the local community to foster mutual trust and awareness regarding disaster relief.
Strategic Significance of The MAHASAGAR Initiative
The Indian Ocean Region (IOR) is one of the most vital maritime zones in the world. It sees almost 46% of global trade, including about 80% of maritime oil, thus making it a global commerce hub. As such, the security of the IOR is quite important to the nation, and the MAHASAGAR initiative plays a strategic role in it. The HADR exercise is also quite crucial, given the fact that the region is also susceptible to various natural disasters such as tsunamis, cyclones, and flooding, which frequently affect the coastal nations.
India has always emphasized the need for capacity building and cooperation in the region, given its role as the net security provider in the IOR. Thus, the deployment of the INS Sharda reflects the government’s commitment to maritime diplomacy and its readiness to empower its neighbors in managing natural disasters.
India-Maldives Bilateral Defense Ties
India has shared a long-standing defense and maritime partnership with the Maldives, which is rooted in mutual respect and regional solidarity. Both nations have conducted several joint naval exercises, military exchanges, and capacity-building programs, aimed at reinforcing that strategic trust. The MAHASAGAR initiative comes from a long line of HADR initiatives focused on the Maldives, such as Operation NEER (2014) and Operation Sanjeevani (2020).
