New Delhi, December 14. VAdm Tarun Sobti, Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff (DCNS), Indian Navy, is on an official visit to Maldives from December 15 to 17, 2025 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.
