President Nasheed Opposes ITLOS Ruling, Urges Non-Recognition

Malé, Maldives - Following the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) decision, which resulted in the Maldives losing 45,331 square kilometers of its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), President Nasheed, the Speaker of Parliament and President of the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), expressed strong opposition to the ruling. In a tweet, Nasheed suggested that the Maldives should not recognize the decision by ITLOS, arguing that it constitutes a significant loss for the nation.

Nasheed further elaborated in the Parliament's WhatsApp group that Maldivian fishermen regularly travel to the disputed area, fishing there at least 60 times a month. The President has been vocal in his criticism of the government's handling of the issue and contends that the ruling will have severe consequences for the Maldivian fishing industry, particularly in terms of tuna resources.

Adding to the controversy, President Nasheed has advocated for the Maldives to make a claim on the Chagos Archipelago, presenting historical evidence to support his argument that the archipelago originally belonged to the Maldives. This claim would further complicate the maritime boundary dispute and potentially exacerbate tensions in the region.

The recent ITLOS decision has sparked debate among legal experts and politicians alike, with some arguing that the Maldives should have fought for a larger share of the disputed territory instead of agreeing to divide it based on the principle of equidistance. The Maldives, heavily reliant on its fishing industry for both economic stability and food security, now faces an uncertain future as it grapples with the potential depletion of tuna stocks in the area and the ongoing controversy surrounding the maritime boundary delimitation.