President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has stated today that there is nothing to discuss with the visiting US envoy about the ongoing war in the Middle East.
Speaking at today's press conference at the President's Office, the President said that Maldives will always welcome leaders and senior officials of all countries, except for Israel.
The US Special Representative for South and Central Asia, Sergio Gor, arrived in Maldives two days ago on an official visit. A meeting between the US envoy and President Muizzu has been scheduled for this afternoon.
"It will be very odd for Maldives to decline when America requests for a leader or senior official to visit the country," the President said.
"I want to see what they have to say. There is nothing I want to discuss regarding the ongoing war. Access will not be granted to use any area of Maldives for purposes of this war or any war. That will not happen," President Muizzu asserted.
The President said that authorization will not be granted to use Maldives' land or air space for purposes of any war by any parties. He further said that none of the countries engaged in the Middle East war are justified in their strikes.
"Iran should be attacking Israel directly. That is what we believe. Israel can be attacked day and night. We want that to happen. When muslim Arab nations are attacked, it is muslims who will be killed, it's muslims' infrastructure that will be destroyed," the President said.
The US Special Representative for South and Central Asia, Sergio Go, will visit the Maldives and Sri Lanka from Friday, March 20, to Tuesday, March 24, the State Department said on its website last week.
The visit is intended to reinforce regional partnerships and hold high-level discussions on security cooperation, according to the department.
