Decision to not sign SOFA did not weaken Maldives-US relations: Foreign Minister

Minister of Foreign Affairs Dhunya Maumoon has said that the decision by the Maldives to not sign the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) did not weaken the relationship between the Maldives and the United States.

She made this remark while speaking to the media after signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the US on granting US scholarships for Maldivian students.

When asked by a reporter if the decision to not sign the SOFA weakened Maldives-US relations, she said, “Not at all. As you just saw, we signed an agreement, which shows the good relations between the two countries. We are working together in several other areas as well.”

She said that the US government did not hold official talks with the Maldives regarding the SOFA.

“Some unofficial discussions did take place. The US government never officially approached the Maldivian government,” she said.

The government’s decision to not sign the SOFA was announced by President Yameen Abdul Gayoom recently, during an official visit to Sri Lanka.