Türkiye has decided to donate the TCG Volkan (P-343), a Dogan-class fast attack craft, to the Maldives.
It will be donated as part of a bilateral agreement aimed at strengthening the country's maritime defense infrastructure.
According to Turkish Ministry of Defense sources speaking to Anadolu Agency, the donation is part of a broader Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
The vessel has undergone maintenance and repairs at the Istanbul Naval Shipyard Command and is scheduled to be transported via a dock landing ship before July.
Turkish media reported that training for Maldivian personnel began in the country on April 7 and is set to conclude by May 9.
Upon arrival in the Maldives, the missile boat will be activated by a Turkish Navy team. The full transfer process is expected to conclude in July.
Following deployment, Turkish naval instructors will deliver two weeks of advanced onboard operational training for the full crew in the Maldives.
The report about the TCG Volkan came amid rumours of leasing an island for tourism purposes to a Turkish investor in exchange for missiles.
But the government has not yet commented.
However, recent changes were announced to allow leasing of islands under the cross-subsidy principle in return for investment in national security projects.
The first presidential decree said the investment amount is USD 15 million, but it was later revised to USD 100 million.
