The Maldives has held a series of high-level meetings on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, led by Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Abdulla Khaleel. The discussions, mostly with counterparts from fellow small island and developing states, were aimed at strengthening diplomatic relations and advancing cooperation in multilateral forums.
On Friday, Dr Khaleel met with eight foreign ministers. These included meetings with São Tomé and Príncipe’s Foreign Minister Ilza Maria dos Santos Amado Vaz, where both sides underlined the value of cooperation between small countries. In talks with Frederick Stephenson of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, the two ministers explored joint efforts within the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) framework.
Tuvalu’s Minister for Justice, Communications and Foreign Affairs, Paulson Panapa, also met with Dr Khaleel to discuss shared development priorities. Meanwhile, the Maldives and the Philippines signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Political Consultations during a meeting between Dr Khaleel and Philippine Foreign Minister Theresa Lazaro. The agreement is expected to strengthen bilateral ties and provide a framework for future cooperation.
Further discussions were held with Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono, focusing on expanding bilateral relations. Dr Khaleel also held separate meetings with Marshall Islands Foreign Minister Kalani Kaneko, Tajikistan’s Foreign Minister Sirojiddin Muhriddin, and Brunei’s Second Foreign Minister Dato Erywan Yusof, centring on advancing bilateral and multilateral cooperation.
While the Maldives has participated actively in bilateral engagements, the country’s presence at this year’s UNGA appears more limited compared to previous years. With the head of state absent from New York, the Maldives’ delegation was led by the Foreign Minister rather than the President, which may have reduced opportunities for higher-level meetings that typically take place during the UNGA High-Level Week.
World leaders often use the annual gathering as a platform to engage in strategic discussions with major powers and regional partners. For the Maldives, which relies heavily on international engagement to advance its development priorities and climate agenda, such opportunities are considered significant.
