Maldives rejects foreign military surveillance of territory and EEZ

The Government of Maldives on Wednesday, 14 October, issued a statement from The President's Office in Malé reaffirming that no part of Maldivian territory will, under any circumstances, be placed under foreign military or operational surveillance initiatives, and that authority over the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) rests solely with the Maldivian State.

The statement said the territory and sovereignty of the Maldives are an inalienable right of the Maldivian State and its people, forming the indispensable bedrock of the country's independence. Under the Constitution of the Republic of Maldives, it said, the authority and duty to protect, monitor and exercise full operational control over the sovereign domain — including the maritime trade routes within its waters and its EEZ — rest solely within the Maldivian State.

Throughout its history, the Maldives has upheld that responsibility with pride, the government said. Given the country's location at the crossroads of global maritime commerce, sea lanes through Maldivian waters facilitate a substantial share of the world's oil and commercial trade moving between continents. By ensuring safe and unhindered passage, the nation has long served international markets and contributed to regional peace, stability and global order, the statement said.

Refusing to entrust the surveillance, defence and management of Maldivian territory and maritime passages to foreign entities remains a fundamental policy of the Government of Maldives to protect independence and sovereignty, it said. That policy also serves as a cornerstone of the Maldives' commitment to regional stability and an environment conducive to global trade.

Permitting any foreign party to oversee or conduct maritime security, military or otherwise, directly or indirectly, over any part of Maldivian territory — including maritime trade routes and the EEZ — compromises independence and sovereignty while destabilising the broader region, the government said. It therefore maintains an absolute policy against any such arrangements.

The Government of Maldives urged all parties to refrain from directly or indirectly inviting foreign influence in any manner that could impact Maldivian sovereignty. The statement did not name any country or any specific foreign initiative.