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In a significant step forward for bilateral defence ties, Australia has announced it would gift a Guardian Class patrol boat and hydrographic equipment to the Maldives, strengthening the island nation’s maritime security and surveillance capabilities in the Indian Ocean.
The announcement was made jointly by Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles and Maldives Minister of Defence Mohamed Ghassan Maumoon. The move marked a key milestone in growing the strategic partnership between the two Indian Ocean nations.
The Australian-built Guardian Class patrol boat, currently under construction and scheduled for completion in 2026, was set to enhance the Maldives’ ability to safeguard its extensive exclusive economic zone. The vessel would provide a more persistent patrol presence and help deter, detect and disrupt illegal maritime activities, including illicit fishing, trafficking and unauthorised incursions.
“Australia was proud to partner with the Maldives to support its maritime security capability,” Deputy Prime Minister Marles said. “In line with our National Defence Strategy, we worked with partners across the north-east Indian Ocean to maintain regional security and stability.”
In addition to the patrol boat, Australia also committed to providing a multi-beam echo sounder, an advanced hydrographic survey tool that would allow the Maldives to more accurately map its ocean floor. The equipment was intended to boost maritime safety and enable sustainable economic development through better understanding of undersea geography.
Defence Minister Maumoon welcomed the donation, describing it as a “testament to the strong and enduring partnership” between the two countries.
“Our nations were bound by a mutual commitment to the safety and security of the seas – particularly in the vital area of search and rescue operations, where we share a common border,” he said. “It was with deep appreciation and sincere gratitude that we acknowledged the generous gift from the government of Australia.”
The gifting of the Guardian Class patrol boat also supported President Mohamed Muizzu’s vision of doubling the strength of the Maldives Coast Guard and came at a time of growing strategic interest in the Indian Ocean’s maritime domain.
Australia committed to working closely with the Maldives to develop a comprehensive maintenance and sustainment package for the vessel, ensuring its long-term operational effectiveness.
This initiative reflected Australia’s broader commitment to a secure, stable and prosperous Indian Ocean region, as outlined in its National Defence Strategy. It also demonstrated Canberra’s increasing focus on maritime partnerships with smaller Indian Ocean states, in response to growing regional competition and the need for greater maritime domain awareness.
The Guardian Class patrol boats, built by Austal in Western Australia, have served as a key element of Australia’s Pacific Maritime Security Program, with deliveries made to over a dozen regional partners since 2018.
The vessel gifted to the Maldives was expected to be tailored to the country’s operational requirements and marked one of the program’s first major contributions to the northern Indian Ocean littoral.
