Foreign Policy

Whistle blowing website WikiLeaks has leaked a confidential cable that details the works of the government of former President Mohamed Nasheed to strengthen ties with the Jewish occupation known as the Israel.

According to Wikileaks the former Defence Minister of Nasheed’s regime, Ameen Faisal told US Ambassador Patricia A. Butenis: “If Palestinians, Egyptians, and others can have relations with Israel, so can the Maldives. We share the same concerns about religious extremism.” The cable entitled Maldives strengthens ties with Israel  classified by the US Ambassador Butenis also stated that the former Defense Minister Ameen Faisal mentioned that he had requested assistance from Israeli Mossad and sought an Information Sharing Agreement with Israel. In addition to this the leaked cable stated: “In a September 18 meeting with PolOff, Maldivian Defense Minister Ameen Faisal spoke of his upcoming October trip to Israel and mentioned that he, Foreign Minister, Ahmed Shaheed and President Nasheed all agreed that stronger relations with Israel were in the Maldives’  interest.” According to the cable, the Defense Minister said, “If Palestinians, Egyptians, and others can have relations with Israel, so can the Maldives. We share the same concerns about religious extremism.” These comments came on the heels of similar public pronouncements by Maldivian officials. At a September 15 press conference, Foreign Minister Shaheed announced that Maldives was strengthening ties with Israel. Shaheed emphasized that Maldives wanted to have diplomatic relations with all UN countries and remarked there had been no record of Maldives cutting off ties with Israel.  He hoped that strengthening existing business relationships with Israel would encourage more Israeli investment in Maldives. Shaheed was also hopeful of getting Israeli expertise in the fields of medicine and agriculture. Further, the FM said Israel expressed interest in providing assistance to the Maldives, stated the leaked cable.