SOFA agreement cannot be signed as presently proposed: President

President Dr. Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik has said that the draft of the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) regarding military collaboration between the Maldives and the U.S. cannot be signed as it is presently proposed by the U.S.

Speaking at a press conference held in the President’s Office today, President Waheed said that the government does to feel that they can agree to the proposed SOFA agreement and that there is no dialogue happening between the two countries regarding the matter.

“The thing is, everyone will include the things they want. We don’t necessarily have to accept those. So at this point in time, we don’t intend to go ahead with agreement. There is no dialogue with the U.S. regarding the matter either.”

Defence Minister Mohamed Nazim told a parliament committee inquiry that the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) that was leaked on social media had been altered and that it was not the genuine SOFA document. He also said that no decision has been made regarding the agreement.