The government is not seeking a confrontation with any country, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu declared yesterday, promising friendly ties with all countries that recognize Maldivian borders.
Addressing the people of Veymandoo last night during a tour of Thaa atoll with senior government officials, the President said his administration's foreign policy was based on friendly relations and assured that there would be no enmity with any country.
"We are not trying to seek a confrontation with any country. Our foreign policy will be based on friendship, everyone working together, working together with all countries. We will not become enemies as long as our independence and our sovereignty are respected. There won't be any country that we would oppose," President Muizzu said, without naming any specific country.
President Muizzu said he would maintain friendly relations with any country that helps the Maldives and provides assistance beneficial to the economy, without interfering in domestic affairs.
"We will keep a spirit of friendship, roll up our sleeves in friendship, with any country that establishes equality between the largest nation in an equal manner no matter how small we are and believes that our boundary is our boundary and that others cannot exert influence within that boundary," President Muizzu said.
The President's remarks without mentioning any specific country came after Indian military vessels boarded Maldivian fishing boats and threatened Maldivian fishermen within Maldivian waters over two days last week.
The incidents of two Indian Coast Guard ships boarding three Maldivian boats came to light with photos, video and information shared on X by the Union of Yellowfin Tuna Fisherman since last Wednesday. A boat was also boarded on Thursday.
The videos showed Indian Coast Guard soldiers active with guns. An Indian Coast Guard vessel could also be seen clearly.
The Maldives Defense Ministry identified the soldiers who boarded the three Maldivian boats as members of boarding teams from Indian Coast Guard Ship 246 and Coast Guard Ship 253. The Indian soldiers boarded Maldivian boats in violation of international law, the ministry said.
The incidents occurred amid strained relations between the Maldives and India. The policy of President Muizzu's administration is to send back Indian soldiers in the Maldives and to monitor the country's territorial waters by increasing the capacity of the Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF).
As part of the policy to end seeking Indian military assistance, the government has signed an MVR 560 million agreement with a Turkish company to procure military drones for the MNDF.
Under the agreement signed by the Maldives government with the company that also supplies drones to the Turkish military, payments were to be made in installments. All payments for the transaction must be completed within this year.
In an indirect reference to the procurement in his remarks last night, the President said Maldivians would be seen very soon to be monitoring Maldivian territorial waters.
"I said it will soon be arranged very soon for us God willing to monitor this massive territory with our own power and our own capacity. We're making preparations for that and all the work needed for that has started. God willing, you will see us actively doing it in a few days," the President said, referring to one point made during Monday's presidential address.
Alleging opposition and mockery of his statements about conducting surveillance of Maldivian seas, the President questioned whether those who made the jokes were Maldivians. Real Maldivians would have encouraged the move, he said.
The President also denied antagonizing any country and alleged efforts by others to create enmity. However, the President said his statements have always been very clear and could not be interpreted to have two meanings.
Maldivian territorial waters have not been properly maintained for centuries, as a result of which Maldivians have not enjoyed the full bounty of Maldivian fishing grounds that the country deserves, the President said. When Maldivian soldiers start monitoring the territory, Maldivian fishers could fish in Maldivian waters day and night and the industry could surpass the tourism industry, the President said.
