‘Pakistan is important to the
Maldives’ foreign policy.’

What are the critical challenges for the new Maldives government?
There are many challenges; one is that the economic situation is very tough. There is a huge debt for every person, and the per capita GDP is lower than anticipated. We need to bring back investors’ confidence and expand and diversify our economy. So, economic recovery and expansion are big challenges, particularly in increasing the revenue we generate from our economic activities. I think that’s our main challenge now, but it’s doable. We have set out main plans for that, and I think we could achieve those targets.

How will the new government address the country’s complex political, economic, and foreign policy challenges?
When it comes to the foreign policy challenges facing the Maldives, I think the former government’s foreign policy strategy was not according to how the people of the Maldives wanted it to be. The election outcome shows that the Maldives people do not want our foreign policy tilted towards any particular country. For the last five years, the Maldives’ foreign policy has been heavily tilted towards India, which is not helping us at all, mainly because of the presence of foreign military personnel who happen to be from India.

How do you see the relationship between Pakistan and the Maldives?
For me, Pakistan is important to the Maldives’ foreign policy. In the last five years, the relationship between Pakistan and the Maldives has not been that close, and it’s not how it should be. Pakistan has helped the Maldives in the past in many areas. For example, one of the symbols of this relationship is the Parliament Building, along with the Islamic Center near the Parliament Building. In fact, Pakistan has assisted the Maldives on many occasions, and I’m sure this relationship will soon be back on track.

The previous government of the Maldives followed the ‘India First’ policy.
Yes, that’s true. However, we are not going to have any policy that’s tilted towards any country. Of course, India is our closest neighbor, and it will always be like that, and we will have a very close relationship with India. We do not have any problems with India because we have a very long history of good relationships with them, and the people of both countries and their cultures are very closely knit. I think it will be the same in the future as well. So, we don’t have any problems with India like that. We believe that was just the former Maldivian government’s foreign policy, which was tilted towards India, and raised serious questions about our sovereignty and independence. That’s the problem we are having, and we really look forward to having a good relationship with India. We are quite optimistic about discussing this issue with the Indian government to achieve a mutually beneficial solution. I think we will succeed in that.

Do you think asking India to get its troops out of the Maldives will likely trigger diplomatic tensions between both countries?
No, I don’t think so. I believe India, being one of the largest democracies in the world, will respect the democratic decision made by the people of the Maldives. They will agree and appreciate that the Maldives people have spoken on this matter. I think having a peaceful and stable Maldives is very important for the Maldives and all the countries in the region. Again, I would say we don’t have any problems with India. I would like to see development projects initiated and completed with the cooperation of the Indian government and companies very quickly and efficiently. There is a need to have more development-related collaboration between the two countries.

I don’t think India will have any problems in getting a solution for this because I have given my assurance to India that by asking for their troops to be removed from the Maldives, I’m not going to allow any other country to take its place. There will be no situation in which the Maldives will allow foreign military troops from any country to be stationed in our country. So, that assurance is quite clear from my side, and I think we will have a successful outcome in this matter.

Should we expect a slight tilt towards China under your government?
We will not tilt towards any particular country. We want to be in the middle and pursue the ‘Maldives First’ policy. This means, for me, the Maldives, the interest of the country, along with its people’s interests, come first. To be tilted towards any particular country would not be in our country’s interest. Similarly, it would also not be in the region’s interest.

How does the Maldives see China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)?
It’s very beneficial. I think China’s relationship with countries along the Belt and Road initiative is mutually beneficial to both the parties involved. We have seen its benefits, for example, the construction of the China-Maldives Friendship Bridge, which has benefited hundreds of thousands of people since its opening. Similarly, the housing projects have been carried out under the BRI initiative, which significantly assists our main issues. Yes, we look for these kinds of initiatives that do not interfere with our independence, sovereignty, and internal matters and respect our internal issues. And that’s what is needed for each country involved in such relationships.

“I believe India, being one of the largest democracies in the world, will respect the democratic decision made by the people of the Maldives.”

What is the development agenda for the new government in the Maldives?
From the outset, we are eying towards economic revival, economic expansion, and infrastructure development across the country, especially in the housing development sector. The Maldives people are looking for housing solutions, especially in the Malé region. There needs to be a lot of housing available for them, and we have made plans to create enough housing solutions in the Malé region and other main urban centres across the country. So sustainable urban development, which is in line with climate adaptation, is the way forward, and I think together with the expansion and diversification of our economy, opening up our markets, especially tourism and fisheries sectors, and allowing investors to establish free zones, will lead the country to good, sustainable progress.

In your opinion, what is the future of multi-party democracy in the Maldives?
We have had four or five general presidential elections since the new constitution came into force, and the turnout has been very high in each of these rounds. It corroborates that the people of the Maldives are actively involved in deciding their political future. So far, they tend to believe in the system, so there is hope that multi-party democracy can flourish in the country. It just needs to be open and clean, and the governance system should be so that the people can trust what’s being done on their behalf.

How do you see the Israel-Palestine conflict?
For the people of the Maldives, it’s always been the same stand on this very critical issue. For the Maldives and its people, Israel is the occupying power, which has been occupying Palestine since the beginning of the conflict. We believe permanent peace can only be achieved by allowing free and independent Palestine to be established along with the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem and its capital and by allowing refugees to return to their homes. Both Palestine and Israel need to have a peaceful coexistence, and I think that’s the only way forward.