President-elect Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has expressed his commitment to safeguarding the independence of the Maldives by removing foreign troops from the country.
In an exclusive interview with Bloomberg TV, President-elect Muizzu made it clear that Maldivians do not want any foreign troops to be in the country, whether it is Indian or from any other nation. As such, he revealed ongoing discussions with the High Commissioner of India to the Maldives Munu Mahawar aimed at the prompt withdrawal of Indian military personnel that are currently present in the Maldives.
Additionally, President-elect Muizzu stressed the importance of maintaining a neutral stance and expressed the intention to collaborate closely with all nations, avoiding any exclusive ties with a particular country as the Maldives is too small to get entangled with a global power struggle.
Furthermore, President-elect Muizzu condemned the Israeli military aggression in the Gaza Strip, expressing unwavering solidarity with the Palestinian people. He declared the ongoing commitment of the Maldives to providing necessary assistance to Palestine in their pursuit of freedom, affirming the right of Palestinians to an independent state. He also acknowledged the threats of terrorism and religious extremism globally and pledged to raise public awareness and actively contribute to finding solutions within the Maldives.