Maldives Marine Corps Commander Seeks Assistance from NCC India

The Commander of the Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) Marine Corps has reached out to the Indian National Cadet Corps (NCC) for assistance in acquiring equipment. Brigadier General Wais Waheed spoke to reporters after a meeting with Lieutenant General Gurbirpal Singh, DG NCC, at the Manekshaw Centre in Delhi. Waheed highlighted the limited resources available to his country and the importance of having well-equipped units to handle natural disasters and other incidents. The Maldives is an archipelago that is vulnerable to such occurrences, and collaboration with the MNDF could greatly benefit both parties during times of crisis. Waheed expressed hope that the Indian NCC could provide assistance by sharing equipment and training methods. More broadly, the two countries regularly engage in joint activities, such as the sixth edition of Exercise Ekatha, which saw Indian Navy divers and Marine Commandos participate from June 4 to July 4. The annual exercise aims to enhance collaboration in diving and special operations between the two naval forces. It was not immediately clear what equipment the Maldives hoped to acquire from the Indian NCC, or when discussions on this matter would continue. However, there are existing proposals for the two countries to further youth exchange programs, which could result in more shared training and knowledge acquisition for both the Indian and Maldivian cadets.