Under its 'Maldives First' doctrine, the administration of President Dr Mohamed Muizzu prioritises neighbouring states, Islamic solidarity, and balanced global partnerships to eliminate reliance on any single foreign power.
Appearing on PSM News's 'Nation Chat' programme, President Muizzu affirmed that national interests remain paramount, offering explicit assurances that no foreign power will hold military or administrative control over the Maldives. "Existing as a puppet of a specific nation is unacceptable," President Muizzu asserted, maintaining that such subservience has been buried over the past three years.
This diplomatic realignment focuses on concrete economic partnerships. A state visit to Pakistan yielded 20 bilateral agreements which included scaling trade engagement to USD 200 million, while high-level talks with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim established a comprehensive strategic partnership spanning security, education, healthcare, and commerce. Describing his non-aligned posture, President Muizzu explained his intention "to maintain as close a relationship as possible with everyone."
Regionally, this policy extends to maritime governance across the Indian Ocean. Addressing the German Council on Foreign Relations previously, President Muizzu urged international partners to treat oceans as shared spaces for collective resilience, positioning the Maldives as an advocate for small island developing states.