Pres. Solih express interest to enhance Maldives-UK relations

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has expressed interest in enhancing the bilateral relation between Maldives and United Kingdom.

President Solih conveyed his interest to working together on global issues of mutual concern as well as enhance Maldives-UK relations in a twitter post congratulating the new Prime Minister of the UK.

In his message of felicitation, the Maldivian President wished Rishi Sunak success on delivering his vision for the UK as the Conservative Party leader and Prime Minister of the UK.

Rishi Sunak said on Tuesday he was not daunted by the scale of the challenge as he became Britain's third prime minister in two months, pledging to restore trust, rebuild confidence and lead the country through an economic crisis.

The 42-year-old former hedge fund boss, who has only been in elected politics for seven years, has been tasked with bringing an end to the infighting and feuding at Westminster that has horrified investors and alarmed international allies.

"I fully realize how hard things are," he said outside the prime minister's residence at Downing Street where he shunned the normal tradition of standing with his family and political supporters. As a strict Hindu he took his oath on the Hindhi Holy book and lit up Diwali lights at Number 10, another first for British politics.

Sunak, one of the richest men in parliament, is expected to slash spending to plug an estimated 40 billion pound ($45 billion) hole in the public finances created by an economic slowdown, higher borrowing costs and a six-month programme of support for people's energy bills.

With his party's popularity in freefall, Sunak will also face growing calls for an election if he moves too far from the policy manifesto that elected the Conservative Party in 2019, when then leader Boris Johnson pledged to invest heavily in the country.

Economists and investors have said Sunak's appointment will calm markets, but they warn that he has few easy options when millions are battling a cost of living crunch.

Shortly after accepting King Charles's request to form a government, Sunak stated that he will place economic stability and confidence at the heart of this government's agenda. Sunak noted that this will mean difficult decisions to come.

He also vowed to put the public's need above politics, reflecting the mounting anger at the sense of perma-crisis that has gripped Britain since the historic 2016 vote to leave the European Union unleashed a battle for the future of the country.

Sunak has warned his colleagues they face an "existential crisis" if they do not help to steer the country through the surging inflation and record energy bills that are forcing many households and businesses to cut back spending.