A US naval ship is due to visit the Maldives in mid-October as part of a routine patrol of the Indian Ocean, the US embassy said here Tuesday.
The USS Rodney M. Davis is "an Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided- missile frigate with the US 7th Fleet", Xinhua quoted the embassy as saying in a release.
The ship crew are expected to work with the Maldives National Defence Force, including its coast guard, "to improve regional security through close communication, coordination and information exchanges, while supporting at-sea and ashore training opportunities", it added.
"It will be tremendously beneficial to build on our excellent relationships with the maritime nations of the Indian Ocean," said Vice Admiral Robert Thomas, Commander of US 7th Fleet.