The United States has said it stands with the people of Maldives.
The National Security Council (NSC) said this in a Twitter post on Monday, after the Maldives government declared a state of emergency.
The Council said the Maldivian government and military must respect the rule of law, freedom of expression, and democratic institutions.
America stands with the people of Maldives. The Maldivian government and military must respect the rule of law, freedom of expression, and democratic institutions. The world is watching.
— NSC (@WHNSC) February 5, 2018
This is the first time the NSC made such a tweet during President Donald Trump’s administration, and it has never before made such a call to a country that is not involved in the United States’ security concerns.
Some experts have said that President Abdulla Yameen’s order to declare a state of emergency was illegal.