Ministry of Foreign Affairs has stated no agreements have been signed to issue any kind of land from the Maldives to India. The foreign ministry made the statement at the Parliamentary Committee on National Security Services as part of the ongoing parliamentary inquiry into the consequences of the India Out campaign led by the opposition.
As part of the inquiry, the committee members raised questions on whether there is any agreement in place to issue any kind of Maldivian land to India, which is claimed by the opposition as the reason to drive the India Out campaign. In response to the questions, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Ahmed Khaleel said the Maldives maintains strong ties with India as one of the most important development partners and one of the closest allies and neighbours of the country. However, the state minister noted the administration will never sacrifice the independence and sovereignty of the country, adding the administration has not signed an agreement to grant even a grain of soil from the Maldives to another country.
Speaking further, State Minister Khaleel called the India Out campaign dangerous, as a tiny island nation like the Maldives must rely on strong foreign relations for survival. He noted the Maldives has also signed conventions that ban any campaign targeting a specific nationality or race, adding the campaign is widely condemned by many international organisations.
Speaking at the committee, Foreign Secretary Abdul Ghafoor Mohamed said a campaign targeting India could also have adverse effects on Maldivians living in India. He expressed concern that the campaign could damage long-standing bilateral ties between the two countries.
The India Out campaign was initiated by the opposition, claiming India has established a permanent military presence in the Maldives and claimed land from the country through different agreements. However, the administration has denied these claims.