Always looking for opportunities to increase Maldives, US cooperation: embassy

United States' Ambassador to Maldives, Alaina Teplitz has reaffirmed that the U.S. is always looking for opportunities to increase cooperation with the Maldives.

While the ambassador arrived in the island nation for a one-week visit on Sunday, she has been meeting with senior government officials as well as lawmakers and other relevant officials.

In a statement to RaajjeMV regarding the trip, the U.S. embassy said her trip "underscores the United States' commitment to the strong and growing partnership between our two countries".

Further noting Ambassador Teplitz will be discussing the "many shared goals and interests" between the two nations, the embassy said that this includes regional security, the Debt Service Suspension Initiative, human rights, economic growth, and the Covid-19 response.

It added that the Ambassador "is always looking for opportunities to increase cooperation in these areas, including through United States Agency for International Development."

Her visit comes just a few days after the signing of a USD 100,000 debt suspension agreement on behalf of the U.S government under the G-20 Debt Suspension Initiative, with Maldivian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Omar Abdul Razzak signing the agreement on behalf of Maldives in Colombo, Sri Lanka on December 30.

Teplitz described the visit as one that emphasizes United States' "commitment to an independent and prosperous Maldives."

The ambassador has thus far met with Minister of Economic Development Fayyaz Ismail, Minister of Communication Science and Technology, Mohamed Maleeh Jamaal, Fisheries Minister Zaha Waheed and female lawmaker representing Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).

She met with the Governor of the Maldives Monetary Authority, Ali Hashim, on Tuesday morning, where she emphasized United States' commitment "to countering money laundering and terrorist financing".