The government responded today to statements made by former President Mohamed Nasheed, who stated that global powers need to bring major military equipment to this region to ensure the safety and security of the Indian Ocean.

A statement issued by the President's Office said that opening up any part of the territory of the Maldives, including international commercial sea lanes and the Exclusive Economic Zone, to foreign parties for military or other monitoring purposes would undermine the independence and sovereignty of the Maldives.

The statement also said that this is something that would affect the stability and security of this region, and refraining from doing so is a fundamental policy of the Maldivian government.

"...Therefore, we inform that the Maldivian government will under no circumstances grant any part of the territory of the Maldives to a foreign military or other monitoring authority. And the Maldivian government urges all parties not to invite foreign influence, whether directly or indirectly, in a manner that could be construed otherwise," the government's statement said.

The government also noted that, geographically, the Maldives is situated in a strategically very important location. The statement also said that the international commercial sea lanes located within the Maldives are crucial channels used to transport a significant percentage of the world's oil trade and general trade from one continent to another.

According to the government, facilitating the opportunity to use the territory of the Maldives safely is a valuable service the Maldives has historically provided to world oil and other commercial trade. It also said that this is a crucial service provided for the peace and security of the world and this region.