Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid has departed to the US, on the invitation of Secretary of State Michael Richard Pompeo.
During the visit, the foreign minister will sign on two important agreements which will focus on cooperation on Aviation Security and grant development with USAID, according to Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Moreover, Minister Shahid will be meeting with Secretary Pompeo and senior officials of the US Government in Washington DC, which includes the US Department of State, National Security Council, Office of the US Trade Representative, USAID and Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC). The minister will explore possibilities of further strengthening the close bilateral ties between Maldives and the US.
It is noteworthy this is the first time a Maldivian foreign minister is visiting the US on an invitation of the US Secretary of State.
Following Minister Shahid’s visit to the US, he will travel to Geneva from February 25-27 to attend the High Level Segment of the 40th Session of the UN Human Rights Council. Afterwards, he will travel to Abu Dhabi to attend the 46th Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers.