President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has assured the public that there is currently nothing to be concerned about regarding military agreements made by the previous administration.

Speaking at a press conference yesterday, President Muizzu explained that these military agreements contain confidentiality clauses that prevent their disclosure without consent from the other countries involved. He confirmed that bilateral discussions regarding the potential disclosure of these agreements are ongoing.

“The main assurance I want to give is that if there was anything that would harm our nation’s independence and sovereignty, it no longer exists,” President Muizzu stated.

The President revealed that the hydrography agreement, which included provisions for mapping the entire seabed, will not be renewed upon expiration. While the Maldives welcomes assistance from any country to increase capacity in this area, he emphasized that having foreign entities “stationed” in the Maldives would conflict with the country’s core policy.

President Muizzu also outlined his administration’s efforts to strengthen the Maldives’ defense capabilities, noting that the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) had faced significant disadvantages due to a lack of capacity building over the past “twenty or twenty-five years.”

“Our military has faced severe disadvantages. It was left to deteriorate. This is very unfortunate,” he said. “Strengthening our defense force is an important task that must be done alongside all other important matters. That is our responsibility.”

The government’s military development initiatives include expanding the Air Corps, doubling the Coast Guard service, increasing Marine Corps capacity, and enhancing Fire and Rescue capabilities over a two-year period. President Muizzu emphasized that investing in technology is key to effectively monitoring Maldivian territory.

The President reaffirmed that regardless of how large or close another country might be, or how much assistance they provide, his administration would not allow any opportunity for questions to arise about the Maldives’ independence and sovereignty.