The two helicopters gifted by India will remain in Maldives, says Mariya Ahmed Didi, the new Minister of Defence.

Speaking to India’s WION news outlet, the defence minister said, "It’s not in our culture to ask neighbours to take back what they give."

India gifted the helicopters in 2013 following a request from Maldives. They were operated and maintained by Indian staff and primarily used for emergency medical evacuation and to conduct search and rescue operations overwater.

"The helicopters can be put to good use such as evacuations and search and rescue," said Minister Didi.

During President Abdulla Yameen’s administration, Maldives requested India to take back the two helicopters after the deal expired.

Then-Maldives ambassador to India Ahmed Mohamed had told news agency Reuters that the helicopters were no longer useful due to the development of adequate infrastructure, facilities, and resources enabling Maldivian auothorities to handle medical evacuations by themselves.

Decades-long relations between India and Maldives had deteriorated during the previous administration due to Yameen’s authoritative rule and the increasing influence of India’s regional rival China in Maldives.