17th Edition of Trilateral Exercise Dosti Commences in Maldives

The 17th edition of the biennial 'Dosti' trilateral coast guard exercise involving the Maldives, India, and Sri Lanka officially commenced on January 17, inaugurated by Maldives' Minister of Defence Mohamed Ghassan Maumoon. The exercise, running until January 19, focuses on maritime security, search and rescue operations, pollution response, and joint security drills. Originating 35 years ago as a bilateral exercise between India and the Maldives, Dosti expanded to include Sri Lanka in 2012. Maldives Chief of Defence Force Major General Ibrahim Hilmy highlighted the exercise's importance in regional maritime safety and its role in strengthening ties among the three nations. Sri Lankan Coast Guard Director General Admiral Rohan Joseph emphasized the necessity of cooperation to address complex maritime threats, while Indian Coast Guard Director General Admiral Paramesh Sivamani underscored the historical and cultural connections between the countries and the coast guard's role in environmental protection and humanitarian assistance.