Discussions have been held on the establishment of the first-ever resident U.S. embassy in Maldives.

This was done during a meeting between Maldives Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Ahmed Khaleel and Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs of the United States Department of State Donald Lu as part of the State Minister’s ongoing visit to Washington D.C.

The state minister also called on Acting Deputy Assistant Administrator for South and Central Asia at USAID, Theodora Dell.

The meeting saw State Minister Khaleel and Assistant Secretary Lu engaging in discussions revolving around solidifying the traditionally close bilateral partnership and global matters of mutual importance.

As such, discussions touched down on the establishment of a resident U.S. embassy, expanding cooperation in education, climate change, economic cooperation and multilateral issues of mutual importance as well.

During his meeting with Acting Deputy Assistant Administrator Theodora Dell, State Minister Khaleel shed light on the significant role played by USAID to improve resilience of individuals and communities in the Maldives.

The pair also reviewed the ongoing cooperation programmes by USAID in the Maldives.

State Minister Khaleel was accompanied by Maldives Ambassador to U.S. Thilmeeza Hussain, Joint Secretary Shiuneen Rasheed, Minister – Counsellor at the Embassy of Maldives in New York Hassan Adam and Communications Director at the ministry, Miuvan Mohamed.

The decision to open an embassy in the Maldives with the resident U.S. ambassador, for the first time was announced by U.S. Secretary of State Michael Pompeo during his brief visit to the island nation in October 2020.

The decision mirrors the fact that the United States values its friendship with the Maldives and sees important opportunities between both countries to work together “like never before.”