Muizz's foreign policy: Not too close, not too far with any country

Opposition presidential candidate Dr Mohamed Muizz said on Sunday that President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, who is campaigning for a second term in office, has not provided Maldivians with the opportunity to govern themselves and that the Maldives is enslaved to another country. He said that his government will not fall into the trap of any country and leave no country behind.

Criticising the foreign policy of this government, Muizz inaugurated his foreign policy at the launch of the manifesto held in the second phase of Hulhumale on Sunday.

 "Whether the country is small, big, close or distant, if we don't go beyond the limits set in our foreign policy, all countries will be equal for us. [And] we will not be leaning towards a particular country or leaning away from it," Muizzu said, on the topic of the country's independence and sovereignty.

Muizz, who is running for the presidency with the support of former President Abdulla Yameen, said Yameen chose the campaign slogan for the election at a time when Maldives's independence had almost disappeared. He said the government has a vacant policy of relying on one country.

“The affairs of our country, today’s government has shaped nothing but what another neighbouring country says,” he said, referring to neighbouring India.

"The affairs of our country, have been arranged in such a way by the government of today, that it is impossible to do a single thing unless it is endorsed by a neighbouring country," the opposition presidential candidate, whose PPM-PNC has run a massive campaign called India Out for the last three years, said.

Despite maintaining that closeness with all countries, he repeatedly said he would not allow Maldives' "independence [and] sovereignty" to be breached. He said that relations with Maldives can only be maintained with respect for that.

"We must maintain our independence. We must maintain and protect our sovereignty. Those who want to do that will be the closest to us," Muizz said, elaborating on his government's foreign policy.

"So, all those who want to act on this principle will be part of our government as our friends."

One of the biggest reasons for the PPM-PNC's India Out campaign under Yameen's guidance was to call for the removal of Indian troops from Maldives. Muizz said on Sunday that foreign troops will not be allowed to stay in Maldives under his government.

"There should be no other country's troops in this country. No one else should have any power in the internal affairs of this country. We should have the power to decide our own affairs," he said, again without naming a specific country.

Noting that Maldives is also a member of the United Nations, Muizz said it is the right of the people to protect the country's sovereignty and maintain its independence.

“We will be able to, and we will make our voices heard where it should be heard,” Muizz called out loudly at the rally attended by many people.

However, it can only be done by the PPM-PNC, which “loves the country, is loyal to the country” and puts the country first, he said. If the people give him the opportunity to rule, he will stop Maldives from going towards the slavery of another country, he assured. He asked the people to place that trust in him.

"As the election draws closer, they will come with bundles of money. We have to decide whether we will sell our freedom for that bundle of money or not. It is in our own hands to decide our future," he said. 

"Our nation will not forgive us if we become ignorant of it today”.

Looking beyond temporary benefits, Muizz asked people to vote for him "as patriots”.

While he says his government would have an "equal foreign policy", Yameen's administration had one of the closest relations with India’s rival China. The government took huge loans from China and carried out large projects such as the Sinamale Bridge connecting Male, Hulhule and Hulhumale.

With close relations with China, relations between Maldives and India deteriorated during Yameen's government. As a result, Maldivians had faced many difficulties in obtaining visas to go to India for medical treatment.

However, in this government, the opposite happened. This government is taking most of the loans from India. Indian funds are used to build the volleyball courts and turfs in the island. The Thilamale bridge project, which will connect the city with Villimale, Gulhi and Thilafushi, is also being funded by an Indian loan.

Meanwhile, this government does not maintain the close relationship with China that was seen during the Yameen government.