The Maldives has signed a defense partnership program with the US at a ceremony held at MNDF IHQ today.
Defense Minister Mariya Ahmed Didi signed the Montana National Guard State Partnership Program on behalf of the Maldives while from the US side, the agreement was signed by Adjutant General of Montana National Guard Major General John Hronek.
Speaking at the ceremony, Minister Mariya said that the US State Partnership Program will go a long way in building the capacity and readiness of the Maldivian Defence Sector to meet today’s challenges.
In her speech, Minister Mariya said the Maldives' enrolment in the prestigious program is one solid outcome of the Framework Agreement signed in September 2020, which formalized the way forward in cementing US-Maldives Defence and Security cooperation.
Minister Mariya said the Montana National Guard State Partnership Program is tailored to meet the unique requirements of Maldives' defense and security landscape, by facilitating engagements in key areas such as Maritime Domain Awareness, Humanitarian Assistance & Disaster Relief, Cyber Defense and Communication Security, Aviation Security Operations, Leadership Development, Military Medical, and Engineer Activities, Operational Logistics and Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Environmental Defense and Response.
The ceremony was attended by Members of the US Delegation, Chief of Defence Force Major General Abdulla Shamaal and officers of Maldives National Defence Force, Chief Executive Officer of National Disaster Management Authority Hisan Hassan, and Director of Anti-Human Trafficking Ali Jaishan Amir.
