President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has renamed the Aviation Security Command under the Ministry of Defence as the Aviation and Port Security Command, expanding its mandate to include oversight of international seaport and port facility security.

The change was formalised through Directive Number 20/2025, issued by the President’s Office on Sunday.

According to the announcement, the modification aims to establish a strengthened security structure for ports across the Maldives, mirroring the existing framework used to ensure safety and compliance in the national civil aviation system. The Government stated that the broader scope will support enhanced monitoring, operational standards, and security coordination across both aviation gateways and maritime entry points.

Under the directive, the unit will now operate with the identification number 453, replacing the previous designation assigned to the Aviation Security Command. The revised mandate is expected to align the country’s aviation and port security mechanisms with international protocols and improve institutional readiness to safeguard critical infrastructure.