A US Secretary of State #VisitMaldives For the First Time In 16 Years!

Michael Richard Pompeo is currently serving as the 70^th United States Secretary of State. Maldives is the third stop in his string of visits to countries to countries in the Indo-Pacific region. His arrival on Wednesday marks the first time in 16 years a high-ranking US government has made an official trip to the Maldives. Secretary Pompeo was received at the Velana International Airport by Minster of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Abdulla Shahid.

In the course of his visit, yesterday, he has paid a courtesy call on the President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih at the President’s Office. They were joined by the Minster of Foreign Affairs. A wide range of issues were address during the call pertaining to strengthening bilateral relations and multilateral cooperation; trade and investment facilitation; environmental conservation; cybersecurity; combatting terrorism etc. Discussions were also separately held with the Minster of Foreign Affairs in relation to plans for economic recovery post COVID-19. Secretary Pompeo also held discussion with Minster of Defense, Uz. Mariya Ahmed Didi, regarding strengthening military ties between the countries. It has also been confirmed that plans were underway to establish a U.S. Embassy in Maldives, affirming mutual commitment to work towards strengthening Maldives-US ties.

Prior to arriving in Maldives, Secretary Pompeo had travelled to the neighboring India and Sri Lanka. He is scheduled depart to Indonesia from Maldives as his last stop.