Australia’s defence minister announced on Monday that the Maldives will receive a navy patrol boat from Australia to help maintain regional security. The announcement came during the minister’s visit to the strategically important Indian Ocean island nation.
The Maldives is made up of 1,192 small coral islands stretching about 800 kilometres (500 miles) across the equator. This location sits along key global east-west shipping routes.
Australia is part of the Quad, a strategic group that includes the United States, Japan, and India. The Quad is seen as a counterbalance to China’s growing influence in the Indian Ocean region.
“In line with our national defence strategy, Australia is working with partners across the Northeast Indian Ocean to maintain regional security and stability,” Australia’s Defence Minister Richard Marles said in Male, the Maldives’ capital.
“Both Australia and the Maldives share a vision of a peaceful, stable, and prosperous region,” Marles added after meeting his Maldivian counterpart, Mohamed Ghassan Maumoon.
The patrol boat to be delivered is a 39.5-metre (129-foot) Guardian-class vessel, similar to those Australia uses to help Pacific island nations patrol their waters. The boat has a range of 3,000 nautical miles and can carry up to 23 people. It is currently under construction and is expected to be ready next year.
In addition to the patrol boat, Australia is also providing hydrographic equipment to the Maldives. This technology will help map the ocean floor, improving maritime safety and supporting economic growth, Marles said.
Though often seen as a luxury holiday destination with white sand beaches and exclusive resorts, the Maldives has recently become a focus of geopolitical interest. India and China have both competed for influence in the islands.
The Maldives’ pro-Beijing president, Mohamed Muizzu, came to power in 2023 promising to remove Indian troops stationed in the country. Relations with India were initially tense, but President Muizzu made a state visit to India in October 2024, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed him warmly and spoke of opening “a new chapter” to improve ties between the two countries.
