Foreign Minister Dr. Abdulla Khaleel has said that the Maldives has no enmity with any country despite supporting Ukraine in the war with Russia.
During President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu's ongoing official visit to Estonia, the country's Parliament Riigikogu thanked the Maldives government for supporting Ukraine at the United Nations
In a post on X today, Minister Khaleel insisted that the government's positions on international issues had not changed and was evident from the government's voting patterns in the United Nations.
"The Maldives has always taken a principled stance on issues related to the independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of all countries - in line with the UN Charter," he wrote.
"We maintain a balanced foreign policy, rooted in close and friendly relations with all countries and the protection of our sovereignty and independence, for the benefit of the Maldivian people," Khaleel added.
His statement follows a barrage of criticism on social media after it appeared that the government was changing its policy of neutrality in the Russia-Ukraine war and amid concerns about its impact on the tourism industry.
Russia is one of the biggest source markets for Maldives' tourism. Following sanctions from Western nations in the immediate aftermath of the war, Russian billionaires' arrived in the Maldives on their luxury yachts.
