In addition to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Island, the High Commission of Maldives in London is also the accredited Embassy to France and Spain.
London, United Kingdom
Male', Maldives
Maldives Foreign Policy
Heighlights
British assistance to the Maldives began in the 1960s, and has mainly been targeted towards human resources development.
British assistance to the Maldives in the area of human resources development began in the 1960s. Initially, assistance was provided under the British Partnership Scheme. Since May 1996, all assistance has bas been channelled under the Small Grants Scheme. Assistance from the UK to the Maldives has been mainly targeted towards human resources development.
The All-Party British-Maldives Parliamentary Group is an informal interest group of MPs that seeks to ‘raise awareness of key issues in the Maldives including environmental problems, education, political issues and social problems’
The All-Party British-Maldives Parliamentary Group is an informal interest group consisting of Members of the House of Commons and House of Lords that seeks to ‘raise awareness of key issues in the Maldives including environmental problems, education, political issues and social problems’
The All-Party British-Maldives Parliamentary Group was established on the initiative of Labour MP Tom Cox on 10 March 1999. The group consists of 20 British MPs and Peers from all the major political parties. The High Commission meets with members of the group frequently to brief members on developments in Maldives, and discuss issues of importance to British-Maldives relations.
The group is currently chaired by David Amess, Conservative MP for Southend West.
Links:
Register of the All-Party British Maldives Parliamentary Group – British Parliament Website
Introduction to All-Party Groups – British Parliament Website
Since Independence from British Protectorship in 1965, Maldives and the United Kingdom have enjoyed close, friendly and mutually beneficial relations. Maldives attaches great importance to its relationship with the United Kingdom, and hopes that bi-lateral cooperation on economic, social and political development can move from strength to strength.
Maldives and United Kingdom have a long history of close relations, and 26 July 2019 marked the 54th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Following on from being a British Protectorate, Maldives hosted a British air base RAF Gan in Addu Atoll between 1957 and 1967 (this British link was celebrated in 2011 at a photography exhibition that accompanied Maldives’ hosting of the SAARC Summit). Numerous high level visits have taken place between the UK and Maldives, with HM Queen Elizabeth II visiting the islands on 13 March 1972.
The strong commercial and human links between Maldives and Britain continue to this day. Almost 100,000 Britons choose to travel to Maldives each year in order to experience the countries’ natural beauty and luxury resorts (Source: Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Republic of Maldives). Additionally, in recent years a number of British teachers have volunteered in various schools throughout Maldives. Meanwhile, many Maldivians travel to the United Kingdom for pleasure, and at any one time roughly 200 Maldivians choose to reside in the UK in order to study in Britain’s world renowned universities.
Britain is also an important market for Maldivian canned a fresh fish products. In 2011, 7% of total exports from Maldives, with a cumulative value of US$9.4 million, were destined for Britain.
On 30 October 2019, HE MS. Caron Röhsler, the UK’s first resident High Commissioner to the Maldives, presented her letter of credence to President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. Working through the Maldives Embassy in London and in the British High Commission in Male', the Maldives Government works with the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) and UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) to promote and strengthen bilateral ties between the two countries.
Maldives foreign policy is founded upon pursuing the key national interests of national development, international peace and security, promoting human rights and upholding the principles of the UN Charter. Accordingly, Maldives is party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and numerous conventions promoting international trade and development, peace, environmental protection, health, and human rights.
Current Foreign Policy
Vision
To strive to make Maldivians proud by making the country a resilient nation
Mission
To increase opportunities for the economic advancement of Maldivians and to promote the national interests of the Maldives through innovative approaches
Principles
- Sovereign equality of States in accordance with international law
- A rule-based and inclusive international system
- Non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries
- The supremacy of diplomacy in managing and resolving global problems
- Friendship with all countries based on mutual respect
Goals
- Enhance the security and national sovereignty of the Maldives through increased bilateral and multilateral engagement
- Protect the Islamic identity of the Maldives and help to promote the values of Islam internationally
- Increase the economic resilience of the Maldives
- Promote greater regional cooperation in South Asia
- Provide quality consular services for Maldivians
- Promote efficiency and professionalism in the service
Global presence
Maldives retains diplomatic relations with 172 countries, and maintains 17 resident missions in Bangladesh, China, Germany, the European Union, India, Japan, Malaysia, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, United Araba Emirates (UAE), the United Nations (Geneva), the United Nations (New York) and the United Kingdom.
Following Independence, Maldives joined the United Nations (UN) in 1965 and became a founding member of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) in 1985. Maldives later became a member of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in 1995, the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) in 2005 and the International Labor Organization (ILO) in 2009. Currently, Maldives is a member of 63 international organizations.
Furthermore, in recent years Maldives has taken lead role in promoting regional collaboration and security in South Asia by hosting the SARRC summit in 2011.
Climate change
Maldives recognises that climate change is the biggest threat of our times, threatening not just the existence of Maldives, but the entire planet. The interests of all countries can only be achieved by combatting this threat.
As a prominent voice in the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) and the G77, Maldives has taken a lead role in international negotiations on climate change and environmental protection. Maldives seeks genuine progress in climate change politics – binding commitments that will tackle the urgent threat of climate change in practice.