Türkiye Military Vessel Handed Over to MNDF
From the ceremony to handover the Turkish military vessel to the Maldives on Friday, August 15, 2025 | Photo: President’s Office
The Turkish government officially handed over the military vessel Dharumavantha (TCG Volcan P-343) to the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) yesterday evening.
The handover ceremony took place at the Hulhumalé MPL area, with President Dr Mohamed Muizzu in attendance. Minister of Defence Mohamed Ghassan Maumoon and Chief of Defence Force Major General Ibrahim Hilmy welcomed the President upon his arrival.
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The vessel, capable of firing Dogan-class missiles, was formally handed over by Turkish Navy Fleet Commander Admiral Kadir Yildiz to Major General Hilmy, who accepted it on behalf of the MNDF. During the event, President Dr Muizzu unveiled the ship’s name, Dharumavantha, viewed a video presentation, and signed the ship’s guest book.
This donation marks the first time in the history of the Maldives Armed Forces that a vessel of this scale has been gifted by another country. The handover comes under a memorandum of understanding between the Maldives and Türkiye, aimed at enhancing defence capabilities through resource and training support. Dharumavantha represents the largest addition to the MNDF’s fleet to date. The vessel significantly strengthens the Maldives’ defence capacity and highlights the nation’s commitment to maintaining security in the Indian Ocean region.
