The Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition (IMCTC) has launched two major strategic military initiatives, “Competence” and “Cyber”, during a ceremony held on Monday. 

The ceremony was attended by Minister of Homeland Security and Technology Ali Ihusaan, IMCTC Secretary-General Maj. Gen. Mohammad bin Saeed Al-Moghedi and senior civil and military officials.

The “Competence” initiative is designed to strengthen the operational readiness of the Maldives’ naval forces, with a focus on naval mine detection and disposal. It includes a comprehensive training programme combining theoretical instruction and practical field exercises on mine types, demining methods, underwater operations, and the use of modern equipment.

Meanwhile, the “Cyber” initiative aims to enhance the national cybersecurity infrastructure. The programme will cover digital protection, threat detection, cyber-attack response, and the overall strengthening of critical systems.

During the launch, the IMCTC and the Ministry of Defence signed a Joint Training Document, establishing a framework for implementing military and technical training, exchanging expertise, and building integrated capabilities to respond to emerging threats.

In his remarks, the IMCTC Secretary-General highlighted the guidance of Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Defence, HRH Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, noting that his strategic vision has been central to IMCTC’s work in supporting member states and responding to evolving terror threats. He emphasised that the new initiatives reinforce IMCTC’s wider counterterrorism pillars: ideology, communications, counter-terror financing, and military preparedness.

Minister Ihusaan welcomed the partnership, stating that both initiatives address key national needs in strengthening defence capacity and cybersecurity. He added that collaboration with IMCTC will play a critical role in safeguarding national security and improving readiness.

The event concluded with both sides reaffirming that the launch of the initiatives marks a significant milestone in Maldives–IMCTC cooperation and opens new opportunities for training, development, and capacity-building. IMCTC noted that the programmes reflect its commitment to supporting member states, bolstering regional stability, and enhancing collective efforts against terrorism and extremism.