On the sidelines of the Global Tourism Forum Annual Meeting 2025, held to bring together global leaders in travel and hospitality, the Former President of the Maldives and Special Envoy of the President, His Excellency Dr Mohamed Waheed Hassan, held a high-level meeting with His Excellency Olof Skoog, Deputy Secretary-General for Political Affairs of the European External Action Service (EEAS). The meeting underscored the Maldives’ continuing engagement with strategic international partners to reinforce mutual cooperation and promote shared global values.
Dr Waheed reaffirmed the Maldives’ enduring commitment to democratic values, transparency, institutional integrity, and sustainable development. He acknowledged the crucial role played by the European Union as a development partner and highlighted its consistent support in areas such as democratic governance, public sector reform, environmental resilience, and maritime security cooperation. The Maldives, with its population of around half a million people spread across 1,192 coral islands, is particularly reliant on international cooperation to address climate challenges, safeguard maritime borders, and uphold democratic institutions.
During the discussion, Mr Skoog emphasized the vital importance of regional peace and stability in the Indian Ocean and South Asia, which remain of strategic interest to the European Union due to growing geopolitical interdependencies and trade corridors. He expressed a forward-looking stance in exploring enhanced cooperation through multilateral platforms, including development assistance, security frameworks, and climate adaptation programs.
Both parties reiterated their shared interest in strengthening the Maldives–EU relationship, with a focus on long-term collaboration that spans political dialogue, environmental protection, and economic development. This aligns with the Maldives’ broader foreign policy agenda aimed at building resilient partnerships while preserving its unique identity as a small island nation committed to sustainability and peace.
The meeting not only reflected a continuation of strong diplomatic relations but also highlighted the Maldives’ proactive diplomatic engagement at international forums such as the Global Tourism Forum, where tourism remains a key economic pillar contributing nearly 30% to the nation’s GDP. As the Maldives positions itself as a world-class destination with a firm commitment to good governance and global cooperation, its active participation in such diplomatic platforms underscores the nation’s readiness to collaborate for a more secure and sustainable future.
advertisment
advertisment
