Maldives has the responsibility to assure that all Indian ocean countries work together to address security threats since it is in the middle of the region, says Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid.
Speaking on Sri Lanka’s terror attacksin an interview with The Hindu, Minister Shahid said the threats faced by Maldives, India, Sri Lanka and the United States have no boundaries or religion.
“We can confront this evil only by making sure that we put aside our differences and work together. The Maldives will play its role in making sure that our intelligence agencies and security forces and our border control officers work with all our partners. Together, I am sure that we will defeat terrorism," he said.
In the interview, Minister Shahid also said that Maldives is working with the international community to track and monitor Maldivians who have left to join foreign wars.
Regarding climate change, Minister Shahid said that Maldives has an almost zero carbon footprint but continues to raise the concerns of small island states in the international fora.
“India is helping us in renewable energy sources. Recently, during Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj’s visit, the Indian government donated many environment-friendly street lights and home lighting. These are little things, but it does go a long way. The Maldives is in need of renewable energy projects, because we could become the first country that is entirely run on renewable energy, based on today’s technology. We will aim for the moon, so far as environmental protection is concerned.”
He also said that Maldives’ relationship with India is now ‘rock solid’ due to the mutual respect and understanding both countries have cultivated, and that it is to the benefit of Maldives and India that the two countries cooperate on development, security, and every facet of relations.
Shifting to local politics, Minister Shahid said that although the voters have given an overwhelming majority to main ruling Maldivian Democratic Party in the parliamentary election, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih intends to maintain the people’s mandate in the presidential election, which is to rule as a coalition.
