Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid has concluded the Official Visit to the United States of America (US).
During the visit, Minister Shahid re-opened the Embassy of the Maldives in Washington, D.C. marking a return to a full-time diplomatic presence after 14 years. The embassy will serve as a vital bridge between the two countries and signifies the deepening cooperation between the Maldives and the US.
Additionally, Minister Shahid held a meeting with the US Secretary of State Anthony J. Blinken. During the meeting, Minister Shahid and Secretary Blinken reaffirmed their commitment to deepening the Maldives–US partnership in areas of trade, defence cooperation, climate change and democratic consolidation. Minister Shahid also emphasised the importance of waiving visas for Maldivians travelling to the US and requested increased higher education opportunities for Maldivians to study at American universities.
In Washington, D.C. Minister Shahid held meetings with several other senior government officials to explore further avenues of cooperation between Maldives and the United States including Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Samantha Power, Chairman of Senate Subcommittee on East Asia, the Pacific, and International Cybersecurity Policy Senator Christopher Van Hollen, Chairman of Senate Subcommittee on Near East, South Asia, Central Asia, and Counterterrorism Senator Christopher Murphy and Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer.
Furthermore, Minister Shahid also travelled to New York and held meetings with the Heads of United Nations Agencies as well. In New York, Minister Shahid met with the Secretary General of the United Nations (UN) António Guterres and reaffirmed the commitment of the Maldives to working together with the United Nations and upholding the UN Charter. Minister Shahid also met with the Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations Amina J. Mohamed, President of the 77th Session of the United Nations General Assembly Csaba Kőrösi, President-elect of the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly Ambassador Dennis Francis and the Executive Director of UN Women Sima Bahous.
Moreover, Minister Shahid also had the opportunity to meet with the young diplomats taking part in the President of the General Assembly Fellowship, one which was established during his time as the President of the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly. Minister Shahid also participated as a panellist at the commemorative event to mark the International Day of Women in Diplomacy and attended the reception hosted by the Permanent Mission of the State of Qatar to the United Nations to mark the second International Day of Women in Diplomacy.
During his trip, Minister Shahid was accompanied by State Minister Ahmed Khaleel, Secretary Bilateral Dr Hala Hameed, Chief of Protocol Ahmed Shiaan, and Director General Ahmed Nasir.