Washington: US President Barack Obama has approved sale of defence articles and services to the tiny Island nation of Maldives.
In a presidential determination to the Secretary of State, Obama said "the furnishing of defence articles and defence services to the Maldives will strengthen the security
of the United States and promote world peace."
The Presidential Determination signed on September 7, was released to the press yesterday.
"You are authorised and directed to transmit this determination to the Congress…," Obama said in his memorandum for the Secretary of State.
It was not immediately clear as to what type of defence articles and services the US wants to provide to Maldives.
The presidential determination comes within a fortnight of India and Maldives agreeing to greater level of cooperation during the visit of the Defence Minister A K Antony to Male, the Capital of the island nation.
New Delhi plans to help Maldives set up a network of ground radars in all its 26 atolls and link them with the Indian military surveillance systems.
Security experts fear that that island resorts could be taken over by terrorists. India is also providing a couple of helicopters to Maldives. The island nation is also on the
radar of China, which according to some reports is keen to establish a naval base at one of its islands by 2010.
Bureau Report
First Published: Wednesday, September 09, 2009, 09:46