The government of Maldives has called on the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) to address the challenges, surfacing for the globe at present.

This was done during Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Ahmed Khaleel’s remarks delivered during the Ministerial Meeting of the Coordinating Bureau of NAM in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Applauding Azerbaijan’s strong commitment and efforts as the outgoing Chair of NAM, which was crucial for the accomplishments of NAM particularly during the height of the pandemic, Khaleel welcomed Uganda as the next chair of NAM and expressed confidence in their leadership and ability to steer the movement’s work.

Further, Khaleel went on to acknowledge the crucial role NAM can continue to play in achieving prosperity and peace.

He also stressed on the need to further strengthen cooperation and collaboration to address shared challenges, such as climate change and food security that Small Island Developing States (SIDS) like the Maldives are particularly vulnerable to.

Established in 1961, the Non-Aligned Movement is a group of 120 countries that are not aligned with or against any major power blocs.

NAM has broadened its mandate to focus on emerging non-traditional challenges following the conclusion of the Cold War in 1991.

The Maldives became a member of NAM back in 1976.

On the sidelines of the Ministerial Meeting of NAM, Khaleel also called on a number of foreign dignitaries including the Deputy Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Elnur Mammadov, Vietnam’s Deputy Minister Do Hung Viet and Ethiopia’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Mesganu Arga Moach among several others.

During his meeting with the Deputy Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan, Khaleel expressed gratitude to the government of Azerbaijan for its leadership of NAM.

Discussions at the meeting revolved around ways to strengthen existing bilateral ties.

Discussions during his meeting with the Deputy Minister of Vietnam focused on strengthening bilateral and multilateral cooperation between Maldives and Vietnam.

Meeting with the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, the Maldivian state minister shed light on the ways both governments can enhance people-to-people contact and strengthen ties.