About Exercise Ekatha:

• It is an annual exercise conducted between the navies of India and Maldives.
• Objective: To enhance interoperability in diving and special operations.

Key facts about India-Maldives relation:

• The location of the Maldives, at the intersection of commercial sea-lanes running through the Indian Ocean, makes it strategically important for India, particularly in the light of China’s growing aggression in the region.
• India was among the first to recognise Maldives after its independence in 1965 and to establish diplomatic relations with the country.
• India established its mission at the level of CDA in 1972 and resident High Commissioner in 1980.
• Maldives opened a full fledged High Commission in New Delhi in November 2004, at that time one of its only four diplomatic missions worldwide.
• India and Maldives signed a trade agreement in 1981, which provides for export of essential commodities.
• Since 1988, defence and security have been major areas of cooperation between India and Maldives.
• India provides the largest number of training opportunities for Maldivian National Defence Force (MNDF), meeting around 70 per cent of their defence training requirements.
• In 2016, the two countries also signed a comprehensive action plan to consolidate defence partnership.
• Exercise Ekuverin: The Indian Army and the Maldives National Defence Forces have been conducting Exercise Ekuverin meaning ‘Friends’ in the Dhivehi language since 2009.