The Maldives and the United Kingdom have held the third round of their ongoing Strategic Dialogue, discussing a wide range of areas aimed at further strengthening relations between the two countries.
The Maldivian side was led by Foreign Ministry Secretary Dr. Hala Hameed. The UK side was led by Laure Beaufils, Director for South Asia and Afghanistan at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. The dialogue began in 2023.
At the meeting, the United Kingdom affirmed that it would provide training and capacity-building assistance needed by the Maldives in Indian Ocean security, maritime security and counter-terrorism. The two sides also agreed to support the Maldives’ efforts to reform the criminal justice system and to strengthen judicial independence and human rights.
In economic discussions, the Maldives welcomed the United Kingdom’s decision not to levy duty on the Maldives’ monthly exports through the end of December 2028. The two countries also agreed to work together under the Ocean Country Partnership Programme on fisheries, tourism, renewable energy, education and building resilience to climate change.
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