The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Moosa Zameer, has concluded an official visit to the United States, marked by significant diplomatic engagements and reaffirmations of international partnerships.
During his visit to Washington, D.C., Minister Zameer held a series of high-level meetings with key U.S. officials. In his meeting with the U.S. Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, both parties reaffirmed their commitment to deepening the Maldives-U.S. partnership in areas of mutual interest. The Minister also met with Samantha Power, Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), Congressman Michael McCaul, Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Relations, Congresswoman Young Kim, Chairwoman of the House Subcommittee on Indo-Pacific, and Congressman Ami Bera, Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Indo-Pacific.
In addition to these meetings, Minister Zameer engaged in an interactive discussion about the priorities and foreign policy of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s government at the Council of Foreign Relations, a renowned U.S. think tank. He also took the opportunity to spend an afternoon with the Maldivian community in the Washington, D.C. area, addressing their concerns and assuring them of the government’s commitment to resolving the issues raised.
Following his engagements in Washington, Minister Zameer travelled to New York, where he continued his diplomatic efforts. At the United Nations Headquarters, he met with the Secretary-General, António Guterres. During this meeting, Minister Zameer highlighted the ambitious multilateral agenda of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s government and stressed the importance of building on the momentum from the fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS4). He also praised the Secretary-General for his ongoing efforts to uphold the UN Charter and ensure sustainable development, peace, and security.
The Secretary-General acknowledged the Maldives’ leadership role at the SIDS4 Conference and in other multilateral fora, particularly regarding climate change and financing for development. He reiterated his commitment to supporting the achievement of the sustainable development goals and maintaining global peace and security.
Minister Zameer also met with Li Jinhua, Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations, discussing the development challenges faced by the Maldives and exploring areas for collaboration to enhance access to affordable and adequate finance for development and climate adaptation. Additionally, Minister Zameer engaged with Dr. Riyad Mansour, Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine to the United Nations.
In New York, Minister Zameer further engaged with tour operators, travel advisors, and a select group of Permanent Representatives based in the city. He also took the opportunity to meet with the Maldivian community residing in New York and New Jersey, listening to their concerns and reiterating the government’s dedication to addressing their needs.
Minister Zameer was seen off at John F. Kennedy International Airport by the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Maldives to the United Nations, Ambassador Dr. Ali Naseer Mohamed. He was accompanied by Dr. Hala Hameed, Secretary for Bilateral Affairs, and Hassan Hussain Shihab, Senior Undersecretary.
This visit highlights the Maldives’ active engagement in international diplomacy and its commitment to strengthening partnerships to address both national and global challenges.
