Chief of Defence Force, Major General Ibrahim Hilmy, has stated that the high volume of maritime traffic through Maldivian waters underscores the nation’s strategic control over vital sea channels in the Indian Ocean. Speaking at the ceremony marking the 134th anniversary of the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF), Major General Hilmy highlighted the increasing necessity of addressing external threats beyond the nation’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) to safeguard national independence and sovereignty.
He further noted that under the resolute leadership of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, significant efforts are being made to insulate the military from foreign influence while simultaneously bolstering defense capabilities across land, sea, and air domains. Major General Hilmy emphasized that the current administration is facilitating unprecedented advancements for the Maldivian military, focusing on the modernization of training, logistics, and fire services to levels previously unseen in the country’s history.
