Foreign relations of the Maldives

The Maldives has remained an independent nation throughout its recorded history, save for a brief spell of Portuguese occupation in the mid-16th century. From 1900 to 1965, the country was a British protectorate while retaining full internal sovereignty. At its independence in 1965, the Maldives joined the United Nations on 20 September.

Since 1978, the Maldives has followed a policy of international engagement, intensifying links with strategic partners and the international system. It joined the Commonwealth of Nations in 1982. A founder member of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), the Maldives is also a member of the Bretton Woods system. It is also party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) as well as numerous conventions on the protection of the environment, the suppression of terrorism, disarmament and on the promotion and protection of human rights.

In its transition towards a liberal democracy, the Maldives has established dialogue and collaboration with international human rights organizations, such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, and acceded to numerous human rights instruments such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR). During the same period, the country has also intensified links with the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) and joined the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).

The Maldives retains diplomatic relations with 172 countries, with resident diplomatic missions in Abu Dhabi, Ankara, Beijing, Berlin, Brussels, Colombo, D.C., Dhaka, Geneva, Islamabad, Kuala Lumpur, London, New Delhi, New York, Riyadh, Singapore and Tokyo and non-resident accreditation in numerous other countries, including Bhutan and Nepal.

The country’s issues of interest include advancing national development, supporting international peace and security, including the protection of the environment and the promotion of human rights, and upholding the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations.

File:Secretary Clinton Speaks With Maldivian Foreign Minister Naseem (5934554131).jpg

Former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton receives Former Foreign Minister Ahmed Naseem, July 2011

Human rights

The Maldives has become a very strong advocate for the promotion and protection of human rights following the democratic transition in 2008. At the United Nations, the Maldives has since then called for all countries to adhere to their obligations under international law, and to respect fundamental freedoms and rights. In 2005, the Maldives became one of the promoters of the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention Against Torture after having earlier acceded to the convention. The Maldives is party to the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), the Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD), Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and its optional protocol. In April 2006, the Maldives issued a standing invitation to all special procedures mandates of the UN human rights machinery to visit to the Maldives.

The Maldives was elected to the Human Rights Council in 2010 for the term 2010–2013, in which it has actively supported and contributed to the promotion and protection of human rights for all. It has co-sponsored a number of resolution establishing United Nations Special Mandates, and supported resolutions on improving human rights situation in the Middle East during the Arab Spring, namely on investigating human rights violations in Libya and Syria.

Maldives has especially close relations with Sri Lanka and India, countries with which it shares much culture.

International organizations

United Nations

Maldives became a member state of the United Nations on 21 September 1965. The nation became a member of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on the same date.

The Maldives became a member of the following UN agencies and conferences on the following dates:

• United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) - 21 September 1965.
• United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) - 5 May 1988
• United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) - 18 July 1980
• United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) - on 15 December 1972
• United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) - 6 April 1971

The United Nations Development Programme has a representative resident in Malé, as do UNICEF and World Health Organization (WHO).

At the UN, the Maldives has highlighted the vulnerability of small states to various threats including terrorism, activities of mercenaries and transnational organized crime. It is also a strong advocate of counter-terrorism and is party to all the main UN conventions against terrorism. Development co-operation is a major priority of the Maldives and it has been campaigning at the UN for a more structured means of graduation from the list of least developed countries targeted for preferential assistance. The main donors to the Maldives are Japan, India, and Australia.

Other intergovernmental organizations

The Maldives became a member of Non-Aligned Movement on 15 August 1976.

The Maldives were a founder member in 1985 of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and the nation plays a very active role in the association. It has taken the lead in calling for a South Asian Free Trade Agreement, the formulation of a Social Charter, the initiation of informal political consultations in SAARC forums, the lobbying for greater action on environmental issues, the proposal of numerous human rights measures such as the regional convention on child rights and for setting up a SAARC Human Rights Resource Centre. The Maldives is also an advocate of greater international profile for SAARC such as through formulating common positions at the UN. [1]

The Maldives is a member of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and maintains close cultural relations with Islamic countries. However, the Maldives has often distanced itself from positions taken by the OIC on matters such as the Kashmir dispute, which it regards as a bilateral issue to be settled peacefully between India and Pakistan. It has also not supported the OIC position on issues such as that of Cyprus, subscribing instead to the international stance taken by the United Nations. The Maldives became a member of OIC in August 1974. [2]

The Maldives and the Commonwealth of Nations

The Maldives joined the Commonwealth of Nations on 9 July 1982 as a special member and became a full member on 20 June 1985 [3]

The Maldives became a member of the Commonwealth of Learning (COL) in September 1989, the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) on 1 January 2000, the Commonwealth Fund for Technical Cooperation (CFTC) in 1985, and the Commonwealth Youth Programme (CYP) on 9 July 1982.

The Maldives withdrew from the Commonwealth in October 2016.

Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, the President of the Maldives and his Cabinet have decided that the Maldives will return to its membership of the Commonwealth, following in the footsteps of The Gambia under Adama Barrow's government, which returned to its membership of the Commonwealth on 8 February 2018.

The Maldives returned to its membership of the Commonwealth on 1 February 2020.

Diplomatic relations

List of countries which the Maldives maintains diplomatic relations with:

File:Diplomatic relations of Maldives.svg
#	Country	Date
1	United Kingdom	Template:Dts
2	Sri Lanka	Template:Dts
—	Israel (suspended)	Template:Dts
3	India	Template:Dts
4	United States	Template:Dts
5	Italy	Template:Dts
6	Germany	Template:Dts
7	Pakistan	Template:Dts
8	Russia	Template:Dts
9	Japan	Template:Dts
10	South Korea	Template:Dts
11	Malaysia	Template:Dts
12	Egypt	Template:Dts
13	France	Template:Dts
14	Myanmar	Template:Dts
15	North Korea	Template:Dts
16	Iraq	Template:Dts
17	China	Template:Dts
18	Australia	Template:Dts
19	Philippines	Template:Dts
20	Indonesia	Template:Dts
21	New Zealand	Template:Dts
22	Singapore	Template:Dts
23	Serbia	Template:Dts
24	Hungary	Template:Dts
25	Iran	Template:Dts
26	Vietnam	Template:Dts
27	Czech Republic	Template:Dts
28	Mexico	Template:Dts
29	Libya	Template:Dts
30	Cuba	Template:Dts
31	Belgium	Template:Dts
32	Kuwait	Template:Dts
33	Austria	Template:Dts
34	United Arab Emirates	Template:Dts
35	Sweden	Template:Dts
36	Bangladesh	Template:Dts
37	Turkey	Template:Dts
38	Thailand	Template:Dts
39	Spain	Template:Dts
40	Netherlands	Template:Dts
41	Romania	Template:Dts
42	Bahrain	Template:Dts
43	Seychelles	Template:Dts
44	Nepal	Template:Dts
45	Mali	Template:Dts
46	Syria	Template:Dts
47	Mauritius	Template:Dts
48	Senegal	Template:Dts
49	Oman	Template:Dts
50	Saudi Arabia	Template:Dts
51	Jordan	Template:Dts
52	Sudan	Template:Dts
53	Switzerland	Template:Dts
54	Canada	Template:Dts
55	Denmark	Template:Dts
56	Guinea	Template:Dts
57	Comoros	Template:Dts
58	Tunisia	Template:Dts
59	Greece	Template:Dts
60	Norway	Template:Dts
61	Brunei	Template:Dts
62	Qatar	Template:Dts
63	Bhutan	Template:Dts
64	Bulgaria	Template:Dts
65	Finland	Template:Dts
66	Poland	Template:Dts
67	Yemen	Template:Dts
68	Malta	Template:Dts
69	Mongolia	Template:Dts
70	Zimbabwe	Template:Dts
71	Chile	Template:Dts
72	Argentina	Template:Dts
73	Cyprus	Template:Dts
74	Vanuatu	Template:Dts
75	Morocco	Template:Dts
76	Lebanon	Template:Dts
77	Algeria	Template:Dts
78	Somalia	Template:Dts
79	Fiji	Template:Dts
80	Sierra Leone	Template:Dts
81	Luxembourg	Template:Dts
82	Tanzania	Template:Dts
83	Colombia	Template:Dts
84	Brazil	Template:Dts
85	Papua New Guinea	Template:Dts
—	Template:Country data State of Palestine	Template:Dts
86	Peru	Template:Dts
87	Nigeria	Template:Dts
88	Kiribati	Template:Dts
89	Gambia	Template:Dts
90	Panama	Template:Dts
91	Tonga	Template:Dts
92	Ghana	Template:Dts
93	Mauritania	Template:Dts
94	Solomon Islands	Template:Dts
95	Barbados	Template:Dts
96	Iceland	Template:Dts
97	Jamaica	Template:Dts
98	Namibia	Template:Dts
99	Venezuela	Template:Dts
100	Federated States of Micronesia	Template:Dts
101	Marshall Islands	Template:Dts
102	Turkmenistan	Template:Dts
103	Slovakia	Template:Dts
104	Guatemala	Template:Dts
105	Samoa	Template:Dts
106	Ukraine	Template:Dts
107	Kyrgyzstan	Template:Dts
108	Bahamas	Template:Dts
109	Tajikistan	Template:Dts
110	Uganda	Template:Dts
111	Belarus	Template:Dts
112	Estonia	Template:Dts
113	Guyana	Template:Dts
114	Latvia	Template:Dts
115	South Africa	Template:Dts
116	Uzbekistan	Template:Dts
117	Armenia	Template:Dts
118	Portugal	Template:Dts
119	Cambodia	Template:Dts
120	Kenya	Template:Dts
121	Mozambique	Template:Dts
122	Slovenia	Template:Dts
123	Bosnia and Herzegovina	Template:Dts
124	Croatia	Template:Dts
125	Lithuania	Template:Dts
126	Ireland	Template:Dts
127	Belize	Template:Dts
128	Kazakhstan	Template:Dts
129	Nauru	Template:Dts
130	Grenada	Template:Dts
131	Template:Country data North Macedonia	Template:Dts
132	Monaco	Template:Dts
133	Antigua and Barbuda	Template:Dts
134	Timor-Leste	Template:Dts
135	Cape Verde	Template:Dts
136	Saint Vincent and the Grenadines	Template:Dts
137	Dominica	Template:Dts
138	Tuvalu	Template:Dts
139	Afghanistan	Template:Dts
140	Azerbaijan	Template:Dts
141	Gabon	Template:Dts
142	Djibouti	Template:Dts
143	Andorra	Template:Dts
144	Albania	Template:Dts
145	Suriname	Template:Dts
146	Uruguay	Template:Dts
—	Kosovo	Template:Dts
147	Montenegro	Template:Dts
148	Trinidad and Tobago	Template:Dts
149	Template:Country data Georgia	Template:Dts
150	Dominican Republic	Template:Dts
151	Nicaragua	Template:Dts
152	Costa Rica	Template:Dts
153	Paraguay	Template:Dts
154	Liechtenstein	Template:Dts
155	Ecuador	Template:Dts
156	Benin	Template:Dts
157	Honduras	Template:Dts
158	Saint Lucia	Template:Dts
159	Burkina Faso	Template:Dts
160	Laos	Template:Dts
161	Moldova	Template:Dts
162	San Marino	Template:Dts
163	Palau	Template:Dts
164	Saint Kitts and Nevis	Template:Dts
165	El Salvador	Template:Dts
166	Zambia	Template:Dts
167	Ivory Coast	Template:Dts
168	Republic of the Congo	Template:Dts
169	Equatorial Guinea	Template:Dts
170	Central African Republic	Template:Dts
171	Ethiopia	Template:Dts
172	Bolivia	Template:Dts
173	Rwanda	Template:Dts
174	Angola	Template:Dts
175	Eswatini	Template:Dts
176	Eritrea	Template:Dts
177	Lesotho	Template:Dts
178	Burundi	Template:Dts
179	São Tomé and Príncipe	Template:Dts
180	Guinea-Bissau	Template:Dts
181	Malawi	Template:Dts
182	Togo	Template:Dts
183	South Sudan	Template:Dts
184	Botswana	Template:Dts

Bilateral relations

China

Template:Main article China and Maldives established diplomatic relations on 14 October 1972. Sino-Maldivian economic cooperation and trade volume were for long insignificant, with total trade in 2002 of only US$3 million. Economic ties have recently become more important with large inflows of Chinese tourists to the Maldives since 2010. Capital inflows from China have also rapidly increased since 2008. China's main exports to Maldives are rice and consumer goods. The relations between China and Maldives have increased in Mohamed Nasheed's presidential term. However, before being elected for president, Mohamed Nasheed criticized the Chinese Communist Party saying relations with Communist Chinese were never acceptable due to their views regarding modern democracy. However under president Yaameen, both countries have developed a close relations. Chinese investments and Aid to Maldives increased. Best example of China - Maldives raising relations is the Chinese-Maldives friendship bridge.

Mohamed Muizzu was the first president to visit China before India on 7/1/2024. During the state visit, the two countries agreed to develop an "Action Plan" for establishing a comprehensive strategic cooperation partnership between China and Maldives from 2024 to 2028. Additionally, the two governments agreed to sign 20 MoUs.[4] The Chinese research ship Xiang Yang Hong 03 docked in Male seaport on 8/2/2024. Survey ship is capable of both civilian research and military surveillance . it is located in strategic locations of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).[5][6]

India

Bilateral relations between the Republic of India and the Republic of Maldives have been friendly and close in strategic, economic and military cooperation. India contributed to maintaining security on the island nation and has forged an alliance with respect to its strategic interests in the Indian Ocean.

India and Maldives officially and amicably decided their maritime boundary in 1976, although a minor diplomatic incident occurred in 1982 when the brother of the President of Maldives Maumoon Abdul Gayoom declared that the neighbouring Minicoy Island that belonged to India were a part of Maldives; Maldivies quickly and officially denied that it was laying claim to the island. India and Maldives signed a comprehensive trade agreement in 1981. Both nations are founding members of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), the South Asian Economic Union and signatories to the South Asia Free Trade Agreement. Indian and Maldivian leaders have maintained high-level contacts and consultations on regional issues. Diplomatic relations between Maldives and India were established on 1 November 1965.43

The relations faced a strain in January 2024 due to derogatory remarks by Maldivian officials and concerns over racism, targeted towards Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as well as India, triggering the 2024 India-Maldives diplomatic row.

This was seen very negatively in India, with citizens calling for a boycott of vacations in Maldives, with many renowned Bollywood actors and personalities criticising the Maldivian government. This also led to the death of a young Maldivian teenager, who had to be taken to India via an air ambulance, after the request at the last minute was denied by Maldivian authorities due to the ongoing tensions against the country.

Malaysia

The Malaysian High Commission in Colombo is also cross-accredited to the Maldives, and Maldives has a high commission in Kuala Lumpur.

Myanmar

Maldives and Myanmar established diplomatic relations on 15 January 1970.40 In September 2017, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Maldives announced that it was ceasing all trade ties with Myanmar in response to the government's treatment of the Rohingya people in Rakhine State.

Pakistan

In November 2004, Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz visited the Maldives and met with President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom. Aziz offered to extend credit facility, scholarships, collaboration in scientific and technological fields and training of civil servants, defence and security personnel to Maldives. In October 2005, Pakistan-Maldives Joint Economic Commission commenced.

South Korea

The establishment of diplomatic relations of Maldives and South Korea were on 30 November 1967 and Bilateral Trade in 2012 was Exports $3.67 million Imports $380 thousand.

Sri Lanka

Official and economic relations between the neighbouring Indian Ocean countries of the Maldives and Sri Lanka, have been positive since the Maldives became independent in 1965. The Maldives first established a mission in Sri Lanka in July 1965, and today has a High Commission in Colombo. Sri Lanka has a high commission in Malé. Both countries were founding members of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) in December 1985. On 13 February 2014 Zahiya Zareer was appointed by President Abdulla Yameen as High Commissioner to Sri Lanka.

The Maldives has an embassy in Bangkok and Thailand is accredited to the Maldives via its embassy in Colombo, Sri Lanka

Middle East

Israel

The Maldives established diplomatic relations with Israel in 1965 and suspended them in 1974.

In 2009, under president Mohamed Nasheed, the Maldives signed cooperation agreements with Israel on tourism, health, and education and culture. In 2010, the Israeli government sent a team of eye doctors to treat patients and train local medical personnel in the Maldives. However, the renewed relationship did not develop into full diplomatic relations.

In July 2014, under president Abdulla Yameen, the Maldives terminated the cooperation agreements with Israel and announced a boycott of Israeli products, as Israel launched a military operation in Gaza. Foreign minister Dunya Maumoon also announced that the Maldives would fully support Palestinians at international forums such as the United Nations Human Rights Council and offer them humanitarian aid.

Saudi Arabia

On 12 May 2008, the Maldivian embassy was opened in Riyadh which was the first Maldivian mission in the Middle East.42

Turkey

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 28 May 1979.

Africa

Mauritius

Both the Maldives and Mauritius were former British Indian Ocean possessions, and both now have similar tourist-oriented economies. Relations between the two islands are friendly, and there is some economic cooperation.

North and South America

United States

File:Mohamed Nasheed with Obamas.jpg

Former U.S. President Barack Obama, former First Lady Michelle Obama and former Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed in 2009

The Maldives established diplomatic relations with the United States on 10 November 1965 and the two nations maintain friendly relations.

he United States supports Maldivian independence and territorial integrity, and publicly endorsed India's timely intervention on behalf of the Maldivian Government during the 1988 Maldives coup d'état attempt. U.S. Navy vessels have regularly called at Malé in recent years. The Maldives extended strong support to U.S. efforts to combat terrorism and terrorist financing in 2001–2002.

Europe

Cyprus

• Cyprus and the Maldives do maintain diplomatic relations. [7]
• Both countries established diplomatic relations on 1 November 1997.
• Cyprus is represented in the Maldives by its High Commission in New Delhi, India.
• Both countries are full members of the Commonwealth of Nations.

Finland

Finland recognized the Maldives on 15 October 1965. Diplomatic relations between Maldives and Finland were established on 10 August 1984. [8]

Germany

The Maldives and the Federal Republic of Germany established diplomatic relations in 1966.

Greece

• Both countries established diplomatic relations on 6 December 1983.
• Greece is represented in Sri Lanka by ts embassy in New Delhi, India.
• Maldives have an honorary consulate in Athens.

Kosovo

The Maldives recognized Kosovo on 19 February 2009. On 16 April 2009, Kosovo and the Maldives established diplomatic relations with one another.

On 7 March, the then Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed asked police to investigate the allegations of a US$2 million bribe given to Maldivian government officials to recognise Kosovo as an independent state. On 17 March, People's Majlis National Security Committee launched probe into Islamic Democratic Party's allegations regarding the bribery. Balkan Insight reported that Kosovo businessman, Behgjet Pacolli, who also heads the New Kosovo Alliance party, has denied any involvement in the bribery case and stated that he only lobbied for the recognition of Kosovo. Foreign Minister Ahmed Shaheed was cross-examined by the parliamentary committee on 28 March. The police investigation was closed on 6 May 2009, concluding that there was no evidence of corruption and the diplomatic process was conducted according to international standards; the NSC investigation was suspended.

United Kingdom

File:Prime Minister Keir Starmer attends COP29 in Azerbaijan (54135015943).jpg

Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at COP29 in Baku, November 2024.

The Maldives established diplomatic relations with the United Kingdom on 26 July 1965.

• The Maldives maintains a high commission in London.
• The United Kingdom is accredited to the Maldives through its high commission in Malé.

The UK governed the Maldives from 1796 to 1965, when it achieved full independence.

Both countries share common membership of the Commonwealth, the International Criminal Court, the United Nations, and the World Trade Organization. The two countries are currently negotiating a Free Trade Agreement.

The Maldives became a British Protectorate in the 19th century and the Maldivian monarchs were granted a good measure of self-governance. The Maldives gained full independence from Britain in 1965. The maritime border with the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) remains undemarcated, with negotiations with the UK being broken off by the Maldives in the late 1990s.

Embassies and High Commissions of the Maldives

The following is a list of the current Ambassadors and High Commissioners of the Maldives with their assigned host country:-

High Commissions

Host country	High Commissioner	Website
Bangladesh	Shiuneen Rasheed	-
India	Ibrahim Shaheeb	Website
Malaysia	Mariyam Shabeena Ahmed	Website
Pakistan	Mohamed Thoha	Website
Singapore	Mohamed Luveiz	Website
Sri Lanka	Omar Abdul Razzak	Website
United Kingdom	Iruthisham Adam	Website

Embassies

Host country	Ambassador	Embassy Website
Belgium	Geela Ali	Website
China	Huda Ali Shareef (chargé d'affaires)	Website
	Aishath Shaan Shakir	-
Japan	Hassan Sobir	Website
Saudi Arabia	Adam Hassan	-
Switzerland	Iruthisham Adam	-
Turkey	Abdul Raheem Abdul Latheef	-
United Arab Emirates	Mohamed Hussain Shareef	-
United States	Abdul Ghafoor Mohamed	Website

Consulates in a non-resident capacity

Host country	Ambassador	Residency
Denmark	Farahanaz Faisal	United Kingdom
Egypt	Adam Hassan	Saudi Arabia
Finland	Farahanaz Faisal	United Kingdom
France	Farahanaz Faisal	United Kingdom
Italy	Iruthisham Adam	Switzerland
Lebanon	Adam Hassan	Saudi Arabia
Libya	Adam Hassan	Saudi Arabia
Luxembourg	Ali Hussain Didi	Belgium
Netherlands	Ali Hussain Didi	Belgium
Norway	Farahanaz Faisal	United Kingdom
Template:Country data Palestine	Farahanaz Faisal	United Kingdom
Russia	Ahmed Latheef
Spain	Farahanaz Faisal	United Kingdom
Sweden	Ahmed Latheef
Syria	Adam Hassan	Saudi Arabia
Turkey	Iruthisham Adam	Switzerland

Representatives to International Organizations

Organization / Post	Ambassador	Office Website
Template:Flagicon United Nations (New York)	[Ali Naseer Mohamed]	Website
Template:Flagicon United Nations Office (Geneva)	Salma Shareef	Website
Template:Flagicon European Union (Brussels)	Geela Ali	Website Template:Webarchive
Template:Flagicon Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (Jeddah)	Adam Hassan	-
Template:Flagicon World Trade Organization (Geneva)	Asim Ahmed	-

See also

• List of diplomatic missions in the Maldives
• List of diplomatic missions of the Maldives
• Maldives and the World Bank

External links

• Maldives Foreign Ministry
• Miadhu