President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has announced that the Maldives is prepared to help facilitate the revival of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), while reaffirming the country's commitment to a "Maldives First" foreign policy centred on peace, diplomacy and stronger international partnerships.
Speaking at the Maldives' 61st Independence Day ceremony, President Muizzu described SAARC as a vital regional organisation that has remained largely inactive for the past nine years. The bloc's activities have been suspended since regional tensions escalated following the boycott of the 2016 SAARC Summit by six member states.
The President said the Maldives has consistently advocated for the peaceful resolution of disputes and stands ready to play a leading role in encouraging dialogue among South Asian nations. He stressed that restoring SAARC's activities and resuming meetings among member states are essential to promoting regional peace, stability and development.
"The Maldives calls on all parties with differing views to come together around the table, prioritise regional development and peace, and work in a spirit of cooperation. If there are difficulties in doing so, the Maldives stands ready to take the initiative and serve as a mediator to help advance those discussions," President Muizzu said.
The President also highlighted the Maldives' expanding diplomatic engagement, revealing that this year's Independence Day celebrations attracted the largest foreign diplomatic presence in a decade.
According to President Muizzu, representatives from 43 countries and the United Nations attended the celebrations, with a total of 113 foreign diplomats and representatives participating.
He described the unprecedented attendance as a reflection of the Maldives' growing international partnerships and thanked the distinguished guests who attended, including Prince Dr Mansour bin Mutaib bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Advisor to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, Minister of State and Cabinet Member of Saudi Arabia, as well as Bangladesh's Foreign Minister, Dr Khalilur Rahman.
Reaffirming the government's foreign policy, President Muizzu said the administration remains committed to working with all countries while placing the interests of the Maldives and its people first.
"The policy of this government is very clear. We will work with everyone to give priority to the Maldives and its people," he said.
The President reiterated that the Maldives is a peace-loving nation that rejects resolving disputes through war or conflict and will continue to advocate for dialogue and cooperation on the international stage.
He also restated the Maldives' strong position on the conflict in Gaza, saying the government continues to condemn what it describes as humanitarian atrocities and genocide committed against the Palestinian people. President Muizzu said the Maldives would continue speaking out against such actions and remain committed to supporting justice and peace.
Emphasising the administration's "Maldives First" approach, the President noted that the Maldives maintains diplomatic relations with all countries except Israel. He said the government remains proud of its decision to prohibit entry into the Maldives on Israeli passports, describing the policy as a principled stand in support of the Palestinian people.
President Muizzu further stated that the government will continue strengthening relations with Arab and Islamic countries, saying the policy reflects the values and aspirations of the Maldivian people while reinforcing the nation's confidence in its foreign relations.
He concluded by reaffirming that the Maldives will continue to champion peace, oppose injustice and war, and work constructively with the international community to promote dialogue, cooperation and regional stability.
