Maldives will have relations with all countries except Israel: President

Maldives will maintain diplomatic relations with every country except Israel and will not welcome Israelis “as long as the Palestinian people are oppressed”, President Dr Mohamed Muizzu said last night.

Addressing a rally organized by the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) at Male’ Artificial Beach, which drew thousands of supporters, President Muizzu said the country’s “beautiful beaches and seas” would not be open to “those who kill and oppress Palestinians”.

He highlighted to the government’s decision to bar Israeli passport holders from entering the Maldives.

“I faced a lot of pressure when I tried to ban the passport. I was told tourism would be ruined, that other things would happen,” he said.

“But I believed that would not be the case. This is a democracy, and in a democracy things should be done the way the people want. This government will listen to its people and do what the people want.”

President Muizzu said his administration was seeking to strengthen ties with all nations except Israel and to widen opportunities for Maldivians.

“The Maldives First policy is the foreign policy of this government, and that is how we have been working to date,” he said.

The president added that in his inaugural address on 17 November 2023 he had pledged to “draw a thick red line” to safeguard the country’s independence; a commitment he said he was putting into practice.

Strengthening national defence was central to maintaining that line, he said.

“Hopefully in the coming days, we will see more successes under this policy. It will continue to bring aid, projects and other benefits to the country,” President Muizzu said.