Asserting that Maldives is not a small nation, President Mohamed Muizzu has said that the steps taken by his government to ensure the Indian Ocean island nation's security on its own should not concern any "external parties".

The country's main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), which holds a majority in Parliament, last month wanted to submit a motion to impeach President Muizzu.

After a pandemic-induced contraction, the Maldivian economy grew by 13.9% in 2022 and is estimated to expand by 4.4% in 2023, with growth projected at 5.2% in 2024 as tourist arrivals increase.

Despite his address to the People’s Majlis, only 24 lawmakers attended, as the top two Opposition parties boycotted the session due to their disagreement with Muizzu's anti-India stance, holding a majority in the House.

Per the Maldivian Constitution, the President is mandated to address the parliament in the first session annually, presenting the state of the nation and recommendations for addressing various issues.n

The Maldives' government has formally requested the Indian government to provide "comprehensive details" of an incident in which its coast guard personnel allegedly boarded three Maldivian fishing vessels operating within its economic zone.

During a telephone conversation with President Mohamed Muizzu, Pakistan's caretaker prime minister Anwaar-ul Haq Kakar discussed ways to fortify the bilateral ties between the two nations, the President's Office said in a press release.

Ahead of Sunday's voting, the MDP, holding a parliamentary majority, decided to withhold approval for the four cabinet members, triggering clashes between pro-government and opposition lawmakers.

The opposition parties, collectively holding 55 seats in the 87-member house, voiced their support for India amidst strained relations and the Maldives' increasing alignment with China.

An American think-tank has alleged that a vast fleet of China's "scientific research" ships is collecting data from the oceans, including in the Indian Ocean, for military purposes, especially for submarine operations.