U.S. enhances Maldives’ maritime capabilities with defense equipment donation

The United States has donated a new set of maritime assets to the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) to bolster its coastal security and patrol operations.

The handover ceremony took place on Monday at MNDF Headquarters in Hulhumalé, where U.S. Ambassador to the Maldives Hugo Yon officially presented the equipment to Chief of Defence Force Major General Ibrahim Hilmy.

Under the U.S. Foreign Military Financing (FMF) program and the Building Partnership Capacity (BPC) initiative, the Maldives received four Rigid Inflatable Boats (RIBs), a RIB shelter, and two ramps designed to enhance the MNDF’s operational readiness and maritime response capabilities.

RIBs—lightweight, high-performance patrol boats with rigid hulls and inflatable collars—are widely used by defense and rescue agencies for their speed, agility, and stability in coastal and near-shore operations. The equipment is expected to significantly improve the MNDF’s ability to conduct surveillance, search and rescue, and border protection missions.

The donation marks another step in the growing U.S.–Maldives defense cooperation, reflecting both nations’ shared commitment to maritime security and regional stability in the Indian Ocean.