President unaware of country seeking permission to use Maldivian airspace for military strikes
President Muizzu stated that he has not received specific details or the name of the country involved in a request to use Maldivian airspace, despite Minister Khaleel's earlier claims that such a request had been made and subsequently rejected.
President Muizzu speaks during a press conference held at the President's Office on March 23, 2026. | President's Office | President's Office
President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has declined to disclose the name of the country that requested permission to use Maldivian airspace amid the ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran, stating that he was unaware of the specific nation's identity.
During a press conference held at the President's Office on March 12, Foreign Minister Dr. Abdulla Khaleel revealed that a request had been made for permission to utilize Maldivian airspace. However, Dr. Khaleel stated that the Maldives had denied the request, emphasizing that such an opportunity would not be granted to any country.
When asked to identify the country during a press conference on Sunday, Khaleel refused to disclose the name. Instead, he stated that details of such diplomatic engagements are not made public without the explicit consent of the countries involved.
During a press conference held by President Muizzu on Monday, Raajje TV inquired about the identity of the country that had requested permission to use Maldivian airspace. The journalist noted that while the United States and Israel are currently engaged in conflict, the Maldives maintains no diplomatic relations with Israel. Consequently, they questioned whether the request had originated from the United States.
Responding to the inquiry, President Muizzu stated that he was unaware of which specific country had requested permission to utilize Maldivian airspace. The President further noted that although Minister Khaleel had mentioned a request for airspace access being rejected, the identity of the country involved and the specific details of the matter had not yet been brought to his attention.
In the ongoing conflict involving the United States and Israel against Iran, the Maldives has notably hesitated to condemn the attacks carried out by the U.S. and Israel. During a press conference held on March 2nd, President Muizzu stated that the Maldives remains aligned with the collective position of the Arab and Islamic nations.
The President's remarks come as several Arab and Islamic nations side with the United States and Israel in the ongoing conflict against Iran. Rather than condemning the strikes launched by the U.S. and Israel, these countries have instead denounced Iran's retaliatory actions and issued formal warnings against Tehran.
