News Desk
The Maldivian government declared today that no part of the country’s territory or Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) will ever be placed under foreign military or surveillance initiatives, reaffirming its strict policy against entrusting national security to foreign entities.
In an official statement released Wednesday, the government made clear that managing, monitoring, and defending the nation’s land, sea, and trade routes rests solely with the Maldivian State under the Constitution.
“Permitting any foreign party to oversee or conduct maritime security, military or otherwise, directly or indirectly, over any part of the territory of the Maldives… compromises the independence and sovereignty of the Maldives while destabilising the broader region,” the government stated.
Highlighting the nation’s critical location at the crossroads of global shipping lanes, the statement noted that a huge share of the world’s oil and commercial cargo passes through Maldivian waters. Maintaining full control over these routes without outside interference remains essential to protecting national independence and keeping the Indian Ocean stable for trade, the government added.
The statement concluded with a direct warning to domestic and foreign actors, urging all parties to stop inviting outside influence that could undermine Maldivian sovereignty.