The government’s proposed budget for 2026 allocates MVR 2.87 billion for military expenditure, an increase of MVR 456 million compared to this year. The figure includes the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) budget as well as funding from the Public Sector Investment Program (PSIP) for defense infrastructure projects.

According to the proposal, MVR 247 million has been earmarked under the PSIP for defense-related development, a sharp rise from the MVR 85 million allocated this year. The increase signals the government’s intention to accelerate large-scale infrastructure projects for the military.

Under President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s administration, defense spending has surged, driven by costly procurements and maintenance expenses. These include the purchase of drones and refueling tankers, as well as the operational costs associated with a naval vessel gifted by Turkey.

While the MNDF’s 2026 budget reduces allocations for executive and administrative services, from MVR 440 million this year to MVR 377 million next year, allocations for other divisions have grown. Funding for Combat and Maneuver Forces alone has risen from MVR 769 million to MVR 910 million.

The government has already spent MVR 1.8 billion (which is approximately USD 90 million) this year to acquire three additional drones, following an earlier USD 37 million deal with Turkey’s Baykar company for the first batch of military drones. Despite repeated purchases, the total number of drones acquired remains undisclosed.

Critics have accused the administration of inflating procurement costs and bypassing legal procedures. Opposition parties allege that the initial drone purchases were made through the contingency budget without parliamentary approval and claim the inflated prices were used to funnel funds into the ruling party’s parliamentary campaign.

The steady escalation of defense spending raises questions about transparency, fiscal priorities, and the Muizzu administration’s growing emphasis on militarization at a time when the country faces pressing economic and social challenges.