President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has asserted that Maldivian sea territory is vast, and that the people of the island nation would monitor their jurisdiction.

President Muizzu said this while speaking at the ceremony held at Maafaru International Airport in Noonu atoll to launch the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF)’s Air Corps and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs).

Stressing that Maldives is “not” a small nation, Muizzu stated that the island nation spans over 900,000 square kilometers.

Therefore, he said Maldivians are more than capable of monitoring their own jurisdiction and added that the island nation is an independent and sovereign nation.

Stressing that external parties should not be involved in the surveillance of the island nation’s jurisdiction, Muizzu expressed his belief that maintaining this independence would “not” impede the close relations Maldives has with “all” countries.

Going on to announce new initiatives to strengthen the country’s military capabilities, he shed light on the initiative to mobilize resources to recondition neglected military resources and bring them up to a standard for military use and public service.

Further, he stated that his administration will double the capacity of the Coast Guard and expand the Air Corps fleet.

He also expressed commitment to increase efforts to enhance land-based vehicles and platforms.

Shedding light on the importance of the Maldives being able to steer towards self-reliance and remain as an independent and sovereign nation in every aspect, the president stressed that defending the nation is the duty of every citizen.

He also said that the independence and sovereignty of Maldives must be in the common interest of everyone, even if their ideologies and beliefs are different.