Maldives cancels hydrography pact with India
The termination notice has now been given and the agreement will terminate on June 4, 2024, he said.
Maldives on Thursday said it has given notice to India to cancel a hydrography agreement signed by the previous government, giving access to India to study and chart the island nation's seabed.
Speaking at a press conference held by the President's Office, Undersecretary Mohamed Firzul Abdul Haleel said the agreement requires six months' notice for termination.
The termination notice has now been given and the agreement will terminate on June 4, 2024, he said.
The hydrography agreement was signed between the Maldives and India on 8 June 2019 to identify the characteristics of Maldives' seas and marine life.
The agreement also establishes a special office and facilities for hydrography within the MNDF.
Indian navy vessels have surveyed several regions of Maldives last year. The survey collected information on reefs and lagoons, charts coastlines, and installs tide poles to study ocean currents and tide levels.
The Maldives receives 25% royalty payments from every hydrographic chart sold to international parties and 35% royalty payments if sold to the Maldives.
President Mohamed Muizzu won the presidential election in September, ousting Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in a runoff after promising to remove a small Indian military presence of some 77 personnel.
The new government, which came to power on November 17, has formally requested India to remove its troops, with President Muizzu saying that India has agreed to withdraw the troops.
