Readout of Principal Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer's Meeting with Maldives Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid

Principal Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer met today with Maldives Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid to discuss the growth in U.S.-Maldives relations and explore areas where our countries can increase cooperation. Mr. Finer congratulated Maldives on officially opening their embassy in Washington, D.C. on Friday and expressed the United States' desire to open its embassy in Malé soon. The two discussed Maldives' commitment to ensuring its democracy is delivering results for the Maldivian people and our shared resolve in tackling the climate crisis. They committed to continue cooperation between the United States and Maldives on a wide range of issues to ensure a free, open, peaceful, and stable Indian Ocean region including security cooperation, climate change, and sustainable development.