Defence Minister A.K. Antony on his visit to Maldives agreed to provide assistance to the country to build a maritime surveillance system. India will install radar on island nation which will be linked to the Indian Navy and Coast Guard headquarters. India is also likely to supply two helicopters to facilitate the surveillance activities. These steps were considered crucial to counter the increasing influence of China in the Indian Ocean region. Analysts also noted that since the island chain was only 400 nautical miles from the Indian coast, it will be important as a logistics and intelligence base1.

• 1. “India To Install Radars in Maldives,” August 21, 2009, at http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=4245842&c=ASI&s=SEA