Every foreign trip undertaken by President Muizzu results in significant losses for the country: Mariya
29 އޮކްޓޯބަރު 2026 | ބުރާސްފަތި 08:17Former Defense Minister Mariya Didi has asserted that President Muizzu’s overseas travels are inflicting irreparable damage on the Maldives' foreign relations and economy. Highlighting a noticeable strain in ties with key partners such as Saudi Arabia and India, she accused the President of pursuing reckless policies that are increasingly isolating the Maldives on the international stage.
Former Defense Minister Mariya Ahmed Didi speaks at the MDP rally held at the party's headquarters on Wednesday night. | RaajjeMV
Former Defense Minister Mariya Ahmed Didi has stated that President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu returns from every official overseas trip having caused invaluable and extensive damage to the Maldives.
Speaking at the opposition MDP rally held on Wednesday night, Mariya Didi stated that President Muizzu’s frequent overseas travels are causing significant detriment to the country. Mariya further asserted that the situation has escalated to a point where the President should be confined to the country, even if it requires summoning him to Parliament to ensure he remains grounded.
Dr. Muizzu must be summoned to the Parliament and placed under indefinite house arrest. Do you know why? Because every time he returns from an official overseas trip, he has inflicted immeasurable damage upon this nation.Mariya Ahmed Didi
Referring to President Muizzu's foreign visits, Mariya stated that remarks made during his trip to Turkey drew displeasure from Saudi Arabia, the nation providing the most significant assistance for the development of Velana International Airport.
Furthermore, he stated that remarks directed at neighboring India—made at the Velana International Airport terminal upon returning from a state visit to China—had strained bilateral relations, forcing the Maldivian people to bear the resulting hardships and losses.
Furthermore, Mariya criticized President Muizzu's remarks at the United Nations Security Council, as well as his official visit to Lithuania.
She noted that criticizing the lack of democracy within the UN Security Council while Russia and China serve as permanent members was a diplomatically short-sighted decision. Mariya further stated that with Russia being one of the Maldives' top tourism markets, abandoning the policy of neutrality and economic prioritization in the Russia-Ukraine conflict to voice support for Ukraine would be detrimental to the nation's economy.
