President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih stated that it is a momentous victory for Maldives that the Maldives vs Mauritius case at the International Tribunal of the Sea (ITLOS) ended in the manner that Maldives had advocated for.

This statement was made by President Solih during a press conference, the Presidential Office, in the presence of Cabinet Ministers.

He mentioned that the territorial area of the Maldives is unambiguously defined in its constitution, the “Qanoon Asaasee”.

In addition, President Solih noted that the Maldives' constitution explicitly states that the country's territorial waters extend up to 12 nautical miles from its coastal edge, and that the special economic zone from north to west is also clearly defined within the constitution.

Nevertheless, President Solih acknowledged that the Maldivian economic territory in the southern region has yet to be fully delineated. He explained that the Maldives' territorial waters extend up to 200 nautical miles, but there were issues with Mauritius over overlapping claims. 

He stated that the case was settled in accordance with international law through the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS), and the Maldives' territorial area remains precisely defined.

President Solih also emphasized that despite the aforementioned dispute, the territorial area of the Maldives is clearly defined and well-established.

President Solih conveyed his gratitude towards the legal team representing the Maldivian government, specifically acknowledging the leadership of Attorney General Ibrahim Riffath.

 He expressed that the team's hard work and dedication had paid off, resulting in a significant achievement for the Maldives. He also noted that the legal team's unwavering efforts had enabled the Maldives to secure what they had been advocating for.

President Solih also indicated that discussions regarding the formal declaration of the southern territory have commenced, and that the Maldives is actively taking steps to safeguard its territorial interests.