The Ministry of Defence has clarified that areas beyond 12 nautical miles from the Maldives fall under international airspace and are not within the country’s legal jurisdiction.
The statement comes in response to false allegations suggesting that Maldivian territory has been permitted for use in military operations.
According to the ministry, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea defines maritime boundaries and outlines the rights and responsibilities of nations. In the Maldives, these rights are governed under the Maritime Zones of Maldives Act (Law No. 6/96).
Under this legal framework, the sovereignty of the Maldives extends to its land territory, internal waters, archipelagic waters, and territorial sea, along with the seabed, subsoil, and the airspace above these areas.
The Convention on International Civil Aviation further establishes that the airspace above a country’s territorial sea is sovereign, meaning that foreign aircraft must obtain permission before entering. However, airspace beyond this limit is classified as international airspace.
The ministry explained that while countries are responsible for managing Flight Information Regions (FIRs) to ensure aviation safety, prior permission is not required for aircraft to enter international airspace within these regions. Air traffic control services continue to monitor and share information to maintain safety and security.
Maldivian maritime zones are defined as follows:
- Baseline: The reference line from which maritime zones are measured.
- Territorial Sea (0–12 nautical miles): Full sovereignty, including control over waters, seabed, and airspace.
- Contiguous Zone (12–24 nautical miles): Limited jurisdiction to enforce laws related to customs, immigration, taxation, and sanitation.
- Exclusive Economic Zone (24–200 nautical miles): Sovereign rights over natural resources and economic activities.
- Extended Continental Shelf (beyond 200 nautical miles): Rights over seabed and subsoil resources only.
- Flight Information Region (FIR): Responsibility for providing air traffic services and ensuring aviation safety.
- Search and Rescue Region (SRR): Responsibility for coordinating search and rescue operations.
The ministry emphasised that the Maldives has full control over its airspace and waters within 12 nautical miles. Beyond this सीमा, decisions regarding airspace usage are not under Maldivian authority.
Reiterating its position, the government stated that it will not allow Maldivian territory to be used to launch attacks against any country amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.