President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has reaffirmed the Maldives’ sovereignty, pledging that every square inch of the nation’s territory will be protected by Maldivians, even while seeking international support for development.
He made the remarks while addressing a joint gathering of the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) and the Maldives Police Service (MPS) to mark the country’s 60th Independence Day. It is the first time a Maldivian head of state has addressed both forces at a single ceremony.
President Muizzu described the Maldives as a proud and independent nation with a long history of defending its sovereignty. He thanked the MNDF and MPS for their continued service, particularly during times when the country’s independence was challenged.
Highlighting the government's strong focus on the security sector, Muizzu said questions had been raised about the priority given to the police and defence forces.
However, he argued that a nation must always be prepared to defend its people, especially one like the Maldives, with a vast maritime territory and a widely dispersed population.
“The sea around us is very large. Our Exclusive Economic Zone is among the biggest in the Indian Ocean. Even though we are small in population, Maldivians will protect every inch of our territory,” he said at the event held at the Social Centre.
The president acknowledged that the Maldives requires foreign technical assistance and resources, but said that this would not come at the cost of national sovereignty.
“We will never allow any foreign country to take the lead in our national affairs. That is not this government's policy,” he said, adding that those who question this stance lack a sense of patriotism.
President Muizzu reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening MNDF and MPS, calling it a matter of national pride and responsibility. He said capacity-building efforts have been ongoing since the start of his administration and would continue in the years ahead.
He also noted the government’s efforts to improve infrastructure, safety, and policing across the country.
This includes ensuring police presence in all inhabited islands, enhancing air, sea, and road safety capabilities, and introducing a National Service programme to support the operational needs of the defence and police forces.
The event concluded with the presentation of medals to officers who have served MNDF and MPS for a long period of time.
