Maldives and USA commence joint military exercise

Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) and soldiers from US Montana National Guard have commenced the fourth edition of the 'Black Marlin' joint training exercise today.

MNDF revealed that the 28 day training will include five Subject Matter Expert Exchange (SMEE) programmes, including intelligence, logistics, medical, Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD), and infantry trainings.

While the infantry training will take place in Laamu atoll Kadhhoo, all other trainings will take place in the capital, Malé itself.

A special ceremony was held at Bandaara Koshi to commemorate the commencement of this edition of the training programme today. It was attended by high-level stakeholders such as Chief of Defence Force Major General Ibrahim Hilmy and US Montana National Guard Adjutant General, Major General John P Hronek, II, who both made special remarks during the ceremony.

The event was also attended by US Ambassador to the Maldives Hugo Yon, Vice Chief of Defence Force Brigadier General Ahmed Hiyaz and other senior members of MNDF.

In addition to this, MNDF also announced plans to introduce a new endeavour under the title "Field Grade Exchange Programme" in collaboration with the US military, in order to provide the best Tactics, Techniques and Procedures (TTP) to lead integrated cross functional staffs at a brigade or battalion level.

"This endeavour will help [us] understand aspects of staff officer responsibilities, military planning processes and trainings management better," MNDF said.

Major General John P. Hronek also met with Minister of Defence Mohamed Ghassan Maumoon today. In the meeting, discussions focused on ongoing engagements and future collaborations between the Maldives Defence Section and Montana National Guards, revealed the Ministry of Defence.

In 2020, Maldives and US signed a Defence Framework Agreement which has enhanced the defence cooperation and efforts to maintain peace and security in the Indian Ocean by both countries.