Maldivians will refuse to accept anything less than being an independent and sovereign nation, says President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.

The president said this in a televised address to the nation on the occasion of Maldives' 57th Anniversary of Independence, on Tuesday.

As such, highlighting that Maldivians will not accept anything less than being a fully independent and sovereign nation, the president said that the people of the island nation will always seek to preserve their liberty.

Extending felicitations of the day to his people, the President noted that Islam is the true seal that binds “sovereignty” and “independence” and that the Islamic faith is the “greatest” blessing that the Maldives has been bestowed with.

Shedding light on the historical significance of the country's independence, President Solih noted that the people of the island nation have “always” longed for freedom, liberty as well as unity and have made “every” sacrifice towards achieving it.

In his address the president also paid due respect to the heroes of the Independence Day who sacrificed their lives in battle for the nation,

Furthermore, shedding light on the significance of foreign and domestic affairs in preserving independence, the president stated that the administration's foreign policy is intended to represent policies that “protect” freedom while also assisting development goals.

The president went on to highlight that ensuring the safety and security of all citizens remains the incumbent administration’s highest priority at present.

Noting that the security forces of the island nation are incessantly on the lookout for domestic and foreign interventions that could potentially “jeopardize” the preserved liberty and freedom of the people, President Solih said that Maldives must maintain its sovereignty by adhering to Islamic virtues in order to avoid being influenced by the rapidly changing world.

Going on to touch down on the significance of peace and harmony within the society, President Solih stressed on the importance of “working together” to minimize differences of opinion, noting that community divisions and conflict “do not” represent independence.

President Solih went on to assert that the island nation must remain a peaceful country if its people are to go about their daily lives, which would only be accomplished by learning to “value” differences of opinion and having the ability to “listen" to opposing perspectives.

Highlighting that the economic effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war are visible in the Maldives, the president noted that Maldivians did not incur the full brunt of the significant hike in global prices for goods and fuel due to government intervention.

He stated that the incumbent administration’s key responsibility is to take in the effects of such challenges experienced across the globe as it attempts to minimize any harm to the Maldivian people.