Former Minister of Home Affairs Umar Naseer has said that current MDP leader and former President Mohamed Nasheed has made a deal with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to establish an Indian military base in Maldives.

Umar said this while speaking on “News Talk” program of Channel 13. While Umar was part of the previous administration’s National Security Council, he said that presence of Indian military helicopters and installation of radar systems are pretences for accomplishing the establishment of a military base.

He said that every such move to instill Indian military is in an attempt towards this goal. He said that motive behind the Indian military being utilized for every small move is that President Nasheed had made a deal with India to allow establishing a base at Addu Atoll.

He said that the bringing in of Indian helicopters to Maldives in 2010 was taken on with the intention of allowing this military base through back channels.

Umar Naseer said that Article 231 of the Constitution states that a military base cannot be established in Maldives without a full majority vote at Parliament. As such, he said that President Nasheed did not have the backing of a majority at Parliament in 2010. Umar noted that this is the reason that back channels had to be used to establish a military base without naming it so.

He said that the agreement made by former President Nasheed had been dismissed by preceding Presidents Mohammed Waheed Hassan Manik and Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom. He claimed that the current administration has renewed the agreement and is going along with it right now.

The former Minister of Home Affairs claimed that a military base in Addu will result in great harm to the Atoll. As such, he said that the military base means the end of tourism at the Atoll. Umar reiterated that Addu Gan will become a landing pad for military aircrafts where private planes cannot land and that Addu Harbour will become a location for docking Indian Navy ships. He said that the citizens of Addu will become second class citizens before the Indian military. He claimed that guesthouse businesses and resorts such as neighboring Shangri-La's Villingili Resort & Spa will be vacated.  

Umar Naseer further claimed that the location of Addu Atoll is significant and added that every country wishes to build a base there. He said that all naval ships and submarines travel from the South of Addu Atoll. Umar said that this area is frequented by American and Chinese submarines and added that India wishes to establish a base in that location to spy on China.

He said that President Mohamed Nasheed’s wish to establish an Indian military base in Addu City was apparent from his commentary on his visit to Addu.

Umar claimed that President Nasheed had commented that there is a cold war between India and China and that this war will be concluded through Addu citizens. He said that this commentary is indicating the establishment of an Indian military base at the location and added that this will only bring harm to the citizens of Addu.