Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abdulla Shahid has expressed confidence in observing greater levels of engagement with the United States of America this year as well.

Taking to Twitter after what he described to be a wonderful conversation with the U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka and Maldives, Alaina Teplitz on Monday, Shahid said that he is confident about the greater levels of engagement as well as the expanded cooperation between the two governments so far this ongoing year.

This comes at a time the ambassador recently underwent a trip to the Maldives in order to conduct important and high-level meetings that reflect the commitment to an “independent and prosperous Maldives”.

During the meeting Ambassador Teplitz met with a number of Cabinet Ministers and parliamentarians where she assured them of America’s commitment to explore avenues of aid and mutual cooperation between both governments.

In late 2020, Maldives and U.S. signed an agreement for debt relief under the G20 Debt Service Suspension Initiative (DSSI), with the aim to temporarily suspend debt-service payments owed to bilateral creditors.

The agreement will contribute “directly” to the economic recovery efforts that are currently ongoing in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic and guarantees the Maldives USD 100,000 in debt relief

Further, the agreement will improve debt transparency and debt management at a time a number of economic challenges have surfaced amid the pandemic.

U.S. has also been one of the most generous contributors to support the island nation’s Covid-19 response efforts, having contributed over USD four million since the pandemic surfaced in the Maldives. This contribution includes a grant aid of USD two million, several donations of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), PCR machine and related equipment and donations through other multilateral agencies.