Washington, DC – The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Maldives, Abdulla Shahid, hosted a reception to mark the reopening of the Embassy of the Maldives to the United States today (June 16), marking a return to a full-time diplomatic presence after 14 years.
In his remarks, Minister Shahid said, “The Embassy of the Maldives to the United States will serve as a vital bridge between the two countries in cultivating economic growth, cultural and people-to-people ties that will mutually benefit both nations. The establishment of the Embassy signals a bold new era of reinvigorated and strengthened diplomatic ties between the Maldives and the United States and will no doubt bring forth greater cooperation and collaboration between the two countries in the global arena.”
Minister Shahid expressed heartfelt appreciation to the American people and government for their unwavering support in establishing the Maldives Embassy in the United States.
The US was the sixth-largest market for Maldivian tourism in the past year. The Minister noted that as a nation heavily reliant on tourism, the Maldives recognizes the immense potential in expanding its partnership with the United States to attract more investors and visitors.
Chief Justice of the Maldives, Ahmed Muthasim Adnan attended the reception. Attendees included Assistant Secretary of State Donald Lu and other senior Government Officials from the White House, State Department, Treasury, USAID, Office of the United States Trade Representative, United States Chamber of Commerce, think tanks, media, and the diplomatic community. The resident Maldivian community in Washington, DC, also attended this ceremony.
Earlier, Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Minister Shahid. The Secretary expressed his support for deepening bilateral relations, most notably with the re-establishment of a Maldives embassy in Washington, DC and the prospective establishment of U.S. Embassy in Maldives capital Malé.
Secretary Blinken thanked Maldives for their proactive leadership in the Summit for Democracy and noted that Maldives remains a leader in the region on promoting and strengthening democracy. The Secretary reiterated our joint commitment to economic growth, adapting to a changing climate, defense cooperation, free and fair elections, and open and free media in Maldives.
Secretary Blinken added that the United States looks forward to enhancing people-to-people engagement in higher education with Maldives, and to growing the bilateral ties between our nations.
