News Desk
President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has issued a sharp defence of national sovereignty, declaring that the destiny of no country should be dictated by the power of another as he called for a return to equal representation within the United Nations.
In an official message released to mark the 81st anniversary of United Nations Day, President Muizzu warned that the credibility of the global body is rapidly eroding under the weight of rising geopolitical rivalries and the selective enforcement of international law.
“The United Nations must remain as an organisation where the rights of all States are respected, the voices of all nations are heard, and the destiny of no country should be determined by the power of another,” President Muizzu said, framing sovereign equality as a non-negotiable principle for small island nations.
President Muizzu argued that political self-determination alone is insufficient if developing states are denied the economic tools needed to chart their own course. For smaller countries to thrive, he noted, foundational principles of international governance must be matched by meaningful global cooperation.
“For the Maldives, the freedom to chart our own future must be matched by the means to realise our national ambitions,” President Muizzu said. He tied this foreign policy stance directly to domestic growth, adding that equitable international partnerships are essential to help the Maldives invest in its people, build economic resilience, and achieve its target of becoming a developed nation by 2040.
President Muizzu pointed to the devastating human toll of global fractures, citing the ongoing crisis in Palestine as a clear consequence of failing to uphold international commitments consistently. He further highlighted that Small Island Developing States (SIDS) remain severely constrained by systemic hurdles, including unsustainable debt loads and unequal access to global finance and technology.
“The credibility of the United Nations rests on trust and accountability,” the president stated. “It can only be built through respect for international law, consistency between principles and actions, and the fulfilment of commitments.”
Reaffirming the country’s commitment to multilateralism, President Muizzu pledged that the Maldives would remain steadfast alongside the international community to defend peace, uphold justice, and ensure every state retains the freedom to shape its own future.
