A constitutional amendment has been proposed to require parliamentary authorization for any foreign military personnel to operate in the Maldives, except for training activities conducted under agreements.

The amendments were introduced by Mohamed Shahid, the ruling People's National Congress (PNC) MP for Hulhudhoo, focusing on modifying Article 251(c) of the Maldives Constitution. Currently, Article 251(c) states: "No part of the territory of the Maldives shall be used for foreign military purposes without the approval of the majority of the total membership of the People’s Majlis."

The proposed changes aim to tighten this provision by mandating parliamentary approval for any foreign military activities or agreements involving foreign troops in the Maldives. It also stipulates that apart from joint military exercises under specific agreements, foreign military personnel should not be authorized to operate within Maldivian territory without a parliamentary majority.

The PNC has previously opposed the interpretation of this article, particularly concerning Indian military personnel stationed in the Maldives for operating helicopters and Dornier aircraft. The proposed amendment seeks to address these concerns by making the rules on foreign military involvement more stringent.