Minister of Foreign Affairs Iruthisham Adam has called for stronger international partnerships and improved access to affordable, predictable and long-term financing to support the resilience and sustainable development of small states, highlighting the need for global commitments to be backed by practical financial and technical assistance.
Speaking at the Commonwealth Ministerial Meeting on Small States in St John’s, Antigua and Barbuda, Minister Iruthisham stressed that climate commitments must be accompanied by sufficient resources to enable vulnerable countries to translate international pledges into meaningful national action. She emphasised that reliable financing remains essential for small states seeking to strengthen climate resilience while advancing long-term economic and social development.
Minister Iruthisham co-chaired the meeting with Antigua and Barbuda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Barbuda Affairs, E.P. Chet Greene. Held under the theme “Scaling up Partnerships and Investment for Resilient Small States”, the meeting took place ahead of the 28th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting and provided a platform for member states to discuss shared priorities and development challenges.
In her remarks, Minister Iruthisham called for stronger international advocacy mechanisms and encouraged greater use of existing frameworks, including the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for Small Island Developing States. She highlighted the importance of deepening engagement with international financial institutions, development partners and the private sector to unlock greater investment in climate resilience, energy transition, trade, debt sustainability and digital transformation.
The Minister also stressed the value of expanding successful national initiatives across small states while strengthening technical assistance and retaining specialised expertise. She noted that building domestic capacity and ensuring continuity of knowledge are important for achieving sustainable and lasting development outcomes.
Reaffirming the principles of the Maldives First Foreign Policy, Minister Iruthisham said international partnerships must respect national sovereignty and development priorities. She emphasised that Commonwealth cooperation should be guided by clearly defined objectives, measurable progress and shared responsibility among member states and development partners.
Minister Iruthisham further underscored the importance of ensuring meaningful representation for small states in international decision-making. In this context, she highlighted the Maldives’ candidatures for membership of the United Nations Human Rights Council for the 2028–2030 term and the United Nations Security Council for the 2033–2034 term, reflecting the country’s commitment to contributing actively to global dialogue and multilateral cooperation.
The ministerial meeting brought together Commonwealth member states to examine common challenges facing small states and explore opportunities for stronger cooperation, investment and partnerships. As co-chairs, Minister Iruthisham and Minister Greene delivered the opening and closing remarks, while Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne delivered a special address and Commonwealth Secretary-General Shirley Botchwey also addressed the meeting.
The Maldives’ participation reflected the Government’s continued emphasis on strengthening international partnerships, advancing the interests of small island developing states and promoting greater access to the resources required to build resilient, sustainable and economically secure societies.
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