The Maldives has reiterated its support for reforming the Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) during the 119th session of its Council of Ministers, currently underway in Brussels.
Delivering a statement on behalf of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Abdulla Khaleel, the Ambassador of the Republic of Maldives to the Kingdom of Belgium, Geela Ali, reaffirmed the Government’s backing of the OACPS reform agenda. The remarks were made during the Council’s session on Friday morning.
Ambassador Geela highlighted the Maldives’ endorsement of initiatives introduced by the new Secretary General, Moussa Salef-Batraki. These include restructuring the organisation’s secretariat, enhancing intra-OACPS trade, and accelerating progress on sustainable development goals.
She also underscored the significance of the OACPS-European Union partnership, calling it a cornerstone of shared development and resilience. In her remarks, Ambassador Geela expressed confidence that the partnership would continue to provide long-term economic benefits to OACPS Member States, including the Maldives.
The Council of Ministers meeting is being held from 23 to 25 May 2025 in Brussels, bringing together representatives from across the organisation’s 79 Member States.
The OACPS was founded in 1975 under the Georgetown Agreement, uniting countries from three regions around shared goals of sustainable development, economic cooperation, and political dialogue. The Maldives formally joined the OACPS as a full member on 9 December 2022.
Since joining, the Maldives has engaged actively with both OACPS members and the European Union to find collaborative solutions to global challenges ranging from climate change to trade imbalances.
