News Desk
MALE — Environment Minister Thoriq Ibrahim, once a close ally of former President Abdulla Yameen, issued a sharp rebuttal on X to Yameen’s recent criticism of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s speech at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). Thoriq, who served as Environment Minister during Yameen’s administration, has now thrown his support behind President Muizzu, signaling a clear shift in political allegiance.
Responding to Yameen’s comments, Thoriq highlighted the former president’s absence from international diplomacy during his time in office. “In his five-year tenure, former President Yameen never attended UNGA nor took interest in multilateral diplomacy,” Thoriq wrote. “In 2015, when world leaders gathered for the SDGs and the Paris Agreement, Yameen was absent. And he remained absent throughout his tenure.”
Thoriq’s statement was particularly critical of Yameen’s approach to international relations. “Leaders are supposed to represent and advance positions that are in the best interest of their people. Not recoil and disengage from the global stage,” he added. “That is exactly what President Yameen did. He withdrew from the global community and isolated the country.”
Thoriq went on to praise President Muizzu’s leadership, emphasizing his active participation in global discussions. “I am proud to serve under President Dr. Muizzu. He has shown time and time again his leadership and dedication to the Maldivian people and our national interests.”
President Muizzu, who returned from a successful UNGA trip this morning, made history as the first Maldivian president to speak at the United Nations Security Council. “Under President Muizzu, we are open to the world. We will work to find collective solutions based on national interest, principles, and values,” Thoriq said, underscoring Muizzu’s commitment to multilateralism and global engagement.
During his trip, President Muizzu held various meetings with world leaders and delivered a speech at Princeton University, further cementing his international presence. His engagements in New York have been seen as a significant step in reaffirming the Maldives’ role on the global stage.
Thoriq’s comments come amid ongoing discussions about the country’s foreign policy, with the current administration positioning itself in stark contrast to the isolationist approach of its former mentor, Yameen.
