Washington/Male, The United States has reaffirmed its commitment to partnering with the Maldives to promote a free, open, secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific region, a senior State Department official said, as the Indian Ocean archipelagic nation He approaches Porcelain.
This message was conveyed when US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met visiting Maldives Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer on Tuesday in Washington, DC.
Secretary Blinken reaffirmed the United States' commitment to partnering with the Maldives to promote a free, open, secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific region, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said.
Since Maldivian leader Mohamed Muizzu, known for his pro-China leanings, took over as president in November last year, the Maldives has intensified its ties with Beijing and signed several bilateral agreements, including a defense cooperation agreement.
Blinken's reference to the Indo-Pacific is also significant, as China vehemently opposes the United States and other countries getting involved in a region where Beijing has major maritime territorial disputes with countries such as the Philippines and Vietnam.
Blinken highlighted the U.S. donation of eight patrol boats to the Maldives and, in collaboration with Congress, the planned provision of $2 million in hydrographic support to help the country mitigate the impact of sea level rise, Miller said in a release.
Blinken and Zameer discussed additional opportunities to enhance cooperation to address the climate crisis, economic growth, maritime security and other bilateral priorities, he said.
In Malé, the Foreign Ministry said Zameer and Blinken discussed issues in the area of defense and security cooperation, commitment to economic growth and adaptation to climate change, among other issues, and expressed their commitment to regional stability and maritime security.
“Met with Maldivian Foreign Minister @MoosaZameer to enhance US-Maldives partnership and cooperation on climate, economic growth, and maritime security,” Blinken posted on his X with photos of the meeting.
Almost echoing the sentiment, Zameer posted on his climate change, promote democracy and cooperation in maritime security.”
A statement from the Maldivian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the Maldives and the United States reaffirmed their commitment to exploring new avenues “to strengthen the partnership” and recognized the importance of upholding a rules-based international order and expressed their commitment to regional stability and maritime security. and promote peace.
“Secretary Blinken congratulated the Maldives on the successful presidential and parliamentary elections and recognized the Maldives' leadership in international forums to combat climate change and promote environmental sustainability,” the statement said.
The Sun.mv news portal said that on Tuesday Zameer met with Samantha Power, administrator of the US Agency for International Development (USAID).
"The two deliberated on various issues related to economic advancements and environmental protection, as well as consolidating Maldivian partnerships with the assistance of the agency," Edition.mv said.
Zameer had left for Washington on Sunday night, on a visit that the Foreign Ministry said seeks to "further strengthen the Maldives-US partnership and reaffirm commitment to multilateralism," Sun.mv said.
Zameer will also travel to New York, where he will meet with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Undersecretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs Li Junhua, according to media reports.
This message was conveyed when US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met visiting Maldives Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer on Tuesday in Washington, DC.
Secretary Blinken reaffirmed the United States' commitment to partnering with the Maldives to promote a free, open, secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific region, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said.
Since Maldivian leader Mohamed Muizzu, known for his pro-China leanings, took over as president in November last year, the Maldives has intensified its ties with Beijing and signed several bilateral agreements, including a defense cooperation agreement.
Blinken's reference to the Indo-Pacific is also significant, as China vehemently opposes the United States and other countries getting involved in a region where Beijing has major maritime territorial disputes with countries such as the Philippines and Vietnam.
Blinken highlighted the U.S. donation of eight patrol boats to the Maldives and, in collaboration with Congress, the planned provision of $2 million in hydrographic support to help the country mitigate the impact of sea level rise, Miller said in a release.
Blinken and Zameer discussed additional opportunities to enhance cooperation to address the climate crisis, economic growth, maritime security and other bilateral priorities, he said.
In Malé, the Foreign Ministry said Zameer and Blinken discussed issues in the area of defense and security cooperation, commitment to economic growth and adaptation to climate change, among other issues, and expressed their commitment to regional stability and maritime security.
“Met with Maldivian Foreign Minister @MoosaZameer to enhance US-Maldives partnership and cooperation on climate, economic growth, and maritime security,” Blinken posted on his X with photos of the meeting.
Almost echoing the sentiment, Zameer posted on his climate change, promote democracy and cooperation in maritime security.”
A statement from the Maldivian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the Maldives and the United States reaffirmed their commitment to exploring new avenues “to strengthen the partnership” and recognized the importance of upholding a rules-based international order and expressed their commitment to regional stability and maritime security. and promote peace.
“Secretary Blinken congratulated the Maldives on the successful presidential and parliamentary elections and recognized the Maldives' leadership in international forums to combat climate change and promote environmental sustainability,” the statement said.
The Sun.mv news portal said that on Tuesday Zameer met with Samantha Power, administrator of the US Agency for International Development (USAID).
"The two deliberated on various issues related to economic advancements and environmental protection, as well as consolidating Maldivian partnerships with the assistance of the agency," Edition.mv said.
Zameer had left for Washington on Sunday night, on a visit that the Foreign Ministry said seeks to "further strengthen the Maldives-US partnership and reaffirm commitment to multilateralism," Sun.mv said.
Zameer will also travel to New York, where he will meet with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Undersecretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs Li Junhua, according to media reports.
