SOURCE: AFI
In a move that has raised eyebrows in New Delhi, Turkey has donated its former TCG Volkan (P343) missile boat to the Maldives Coast Guard, marking a significant step in Turkey-Maldives defense cooperation. According to a report by TurDef, the transfer, announced on April 15, 2025, will see the Maldives receive its largest vessel to date, a development that some analysts interpret as a subtle message to India amid shifting geopolitical dynamics in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) .
The TCG Volkan (P343), a Do?an-class fast attack craft, has been in service with the Turkish Navy since its commissioning on May 12, 1981. Designed by the renowned German shipbuilder Lürssen, the Do?an class represents a significant chapter in Turkey’s naval history. Of the four vessels in the class, TCG Do?an (P340) was constructed in Germany, while the remaining three, including TCG Volkan, were built in Turkey, showcasing Turkey’s growing shipbuilding capabilities during the late 20th century .
Armed with two artillery pieces—a 76 mm OTO Melara gun and a twin 35 mm Oerlikon GDM-A—the TCG Volkan was among Turkey’s first vessels equipped with Harpoon anti-ship missiles, a leap forward in naval warfare technology at the time . Though reclassified as a test and training vessel in 2024, the boat’s transfer to the Maldives underscores Turkey’s intent to deepen ties with the island nation while repurposing a seasoned asset .
In the Turkish Navy, the Do?an class has largely been phased out, first supplemented and then nearly replaced by the more modern K?l?ç I and K?l?ç II missile boats. The Turkish Navy now operates nine boats of the K?l?ç class, built between 1997 and 2010, reflecting a shift toward advanced naval platforms .
For the Maldives Coast Guard, the TCG Volkan will become the largest vessel in its fleet, surpassing the MCGS Huravee, a patrol boat gifted by India in 2023. The Huravee itself replaced an earlier vessel of the same name, donated by India in 2006, highlighting India’s longstanding role as a key maritime security partner for the Maldives . The Huravee, which underwent a $4 million refit in Mumbai in November 2024, symbolizes the deep defense ties between India and the Maldives, reinforced during Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu’s state visit to India in October 2024 .
However, Turkey’s donation of the TCG Volkan, set to be commissioned into the Maldivian Navy between April and June 2025, introduces a new dynamic. The transfer, which includes training for Maldivian personnel in Turkey, is seen as part of a broader strategy by President Muizzu to diversify defense partnerships, especially after his initial “India Out” campaign . Alongside this donation, the Maldives has also procured drones from Turkey and is reportedly planning to purchase missiles, signaling a deepening military relationship with Ankara .
Turkey’s move has sparked concerns in India, with some viewing it as a deliberate signal in the IOR, a region where India has traditionally held significant influence. Posts on X highlight India’s unease, noting that the Maldives’ growing ties with Turkey—coupled with Turkey’s training of Maldivian naval personnel—could challenge India’s strategic dominance in the region . The timing is particularly sensitive, as India has been working to mend ties with the Maldives following Muizzu’s earlier anti-India rhetoric, exemplified by initiatives like the Huravee refit and ongoing defense cooperation under India’s “Neighbourhood First” policy .
Turkey’s expanding footprint in the IOR, including plans to deploy naval assets to Somali waters and its growing naval presence in Qatar, suggests a broader ambition to project power beyond its traditional sphere of influence . The donation of the TCG Volkan to the Maldives, a key maritime neighbor of India, may be a calculated move to counterbalance India’s influence while strengthening Turkey’s strategic foothold in the region.
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