A senior State Department official has stated that the US has reaffirmed its commitment to working with the Maldives to advance a free, open, secure, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region. This declaration comes in the context of the archipelagic republic in the Indian Ocean strengthening its ties with China. The message was conveyed on Tuesday in Washington, DC, during a meeting between visiting Maldivian Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
According to State Department spokesman Matthew Miller, Secretary Blinken reiterated the US commitment to working with the Maldives to advance a free, open, secure, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region. This statement is significant as it comes after Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu, known for his pro-China views, has strengthened ties with Beijing since taking office in November 2023. The president has signed several bilateral agreements with China, including one pertaining to defense cooperation. Blinken’s mention of the Indo-Pacific is particularly noteworthy as China strongly opposes US and other international involvement in the region, where Beijing has significant maritime territorial disputes with nations such as Vietnam and the Philippines.
Miller released a statement highlighting Blinken’s efforts, which included the US donating eight patrol boats to the Maldives and collaborating with Congress to provide $2 million in hydrographic support to help the nation mitigate the effects of sea-level rise. The statement also noted that Blinken and Zameer discussed further ways to strengthen collaboration on tackling climate change, economic expansion, marine security, and other bilateral concerns.
The Maldives Foreign Ministry confirmed that defense and security cooperation, commitment to economic growth, and climate change adaptation were among the topics discussed in Malé. Zameer and Blinken also reaffirmed their support for maritime security and regional stability.
Blinken took to his X handle to post about the meeting, stating “Met with Maldivian Foreign Minister @MoosaZameer to enhance the US-Maldives partnership and cooperation on climate, economic growth, and maritime security.” He accompanied the post with photos of the meeting. Zameer mirrored this sentiment in his own post on X, saying, “I am delighted to meet with the Honourable @SecBlinken, Secretary of State of the US, today. I reaffirmed our commitment to further strengthen the partnership between the Maldives and US in tackling climate change, promoting democracy and cooperation in maritime security.”
A statement from the Maldives Foreign Ministry stated that the Maldives and the United States reaffirmed their commitment to exploring new avenues “to strengthen the partnership” and acknowledged the importance of upholding a rules-based international order. The statement also expressed their commitment to regional stability, maritime security, and promoting peace. The statement concluded by saying, “Secretary Blinken congratulated the Maldives on the successful Presidential and Parliamentary elections and acknowledged the Maldives’ leadership in the international fora towards combating climate change and promoting environmental sustainability.”
News portal Sun.mv reported that earlier on Tuesday, Zameer met with Samantha Power, the Administrator of the US Agency for International Development (USAID). “The two deliberated on various themes related to economical advancements and protecting the environment in addition to consolidating Maldivian associations with the agency’s assistance,” Edition.mv said.
Zameer departed for Washington on Sunday night, in a visit that the Foreign Ministry stated is intended to “further strengthen the Maldives – US partnership and reaffirm commitment to multilateralism,” Sun.mv reported. Zameer is also scheduled to travel to New York, where he will meet with the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, Li Junhua, according to media reports.
