Minister of Defence, Honorable Mohamed Ghassan Maumoon, inaugurated the Trilateral Joint Exercise ‘DOSTI-16.’
The ceremony, held on February 22nd, marked the commencement of the exercise, which involves the MNDF Coast Guard, Indian Coast Guard, and Sri Lanka Coast Guard.
Minister Ghassan graced the event as the Chief Guest, highlighting the importance of collaboration and interoperability among the Coast Guards of the three nations.
Scheduled from February 22nd to 25th, the exercise provides participating forces with opportunities to engage in various maritime activities, including interdiction operations, search and rescue missions, surveillance, and communication drills. These activities aim to enhance their collective capability to respond to maritime security and safety challenges.
Originating as a bilateral training initiative between the Indian Coast Guard and the Maldives National Defence Force Coast Guard in 1991, the exercise expanded to include the Sri Lankan Coast Guard in 2012. This year, the Bangladesh Coast Guard joins as an observer, further broadening the exercise’s scope and impact.
Ministers of the Maldivian Government as well as the Chief of Defence Force, Lieutenant General Abdul Raheem Abdul Latheef, Vice Chief of Defence Force, Brigadier General Ibrahim Hilmy, Additional Director General of Indian Coast Guard, ADG S Paramesh, and some foreign ambassadors took part in the inauguration ceremony.
