Government Vows No Compromise on Maldives' Sovereignty, Rules Out Handing Territory Protection to Any Foreign Party

The government has stated that it will not compromise in any way in protecting the independence and sovereignty of the Maldives, and that it will not hand over to any foreign party the authority to safeguard Maldivian territory. The President's Office issued a statement to this effect at a time when some news is circulating that two vessels entered Maldives' maritime territory without permission and have been docked near Malé for more than a week, and that no border-control institution knew of it. The statement issued by the President's Office said that the territory of the Maldives and the sovereignty of the Maldivian state are the foundation on which the country's independence depends, cannot be altered, and are the right of the Maldivian people. It also said that the complete authority and responsibility to safeguard Maldivian territory, including the international trade waterways contained within Maldives' territory and the exclusive economic zone, is a responsibility entrusted to the state by the Constitution of the Republic of Maldives. In addition, the government noted that Dhivehi history establishes that maintaining the nation's sovereignty through this era has always been something Maldivians do with pride. Noting that the Maldives lies in a highly important strategic area of world geography, the statement said that the country's sea lanes are important routes through which a large share of the world's oil trade and other important trade travel. Therefore, facilitating the safe use of this area is a valuable role played by the Maldives for international trade and regional stability, the statement said. Reiterating that not entrusting the safeguarding of Maldivian territory and sea lanes to any foreign party is one of the government's highest policies, the government said that opening any part of the territory to a foreign party to protect it militarily or otherwise would undermine the sovereignty of the Maldivian state. The government therefore provided assurance that no part of the territory of the Maldives will, under any circumstance, be surrendered to any foreign military or non-military force for its protection, and urged that no invitation be given, directly or indirectly, to any foreign influence that may attempt to do so.