Foreign relations of the Maldives

Maldives became a member state of the United Nations on 21 September 1965. The nation became a member of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on the same date.

The Maldives became a member of the following UN agencies and conferences on the following dates:

• United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) - 21 September 1965.
• United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) - 5 May 1988
• United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) - 18 July 1980
• United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) - on 15 December 1972
• United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) - 6 April 1971

The United Nations Development Programme has a representative resident in Malé, as do UNICEF and World Health Organization (WHO).

At the UN, the Maldives has highlighted the vulnerability of small states to various threats including terrorism, activities of mercenaries and transnational organized crime. It is also a strong advocate of counter-terrorism and is party to all the main UN conventions against terrorism. Development co-operation is a major priority of the Maldives and it has been campaigning at the UN for a more structured means of graduation from the list of least developed countries targeted for preferential assistance. The main donors to the Maldives are Japan, India, and Australia.

The Maldives became a member of Non-Aligned Movement on 15 August 1976.

The Maldives were a founder member in 1985 of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and the nation plays a very active role in the association. It has taken the lead in calling for a South Asian Free Trade Agreement, the formulation of a Social Charter, the initiation of informal political consultations in SAARC forums, the lobbying for greater action on environmental issues, the proposal of numerous human rights measures such as the regional convention on child rights and for setting up a SAARC Human Rights Resource Centre. The Maldives is also an advocate of greater international profile for SAARC such as through formulating common positions at the UN.

The Maldives is a member of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and maintains close cultural relations with Islamic countries. However, the Maldives has often distanced itself from positions taken by the OIC on matters such as the Kashmir dispute, which it regards as a bilateral issue to be settled peacefully between India and Pakistan. It has also not supported the OIC position on issues such as that of Cyprus, subscribing instead to the international stance taken by the United Nations. The Maldives became a member of OIC in August 1974.

China and Maldives established diplomatic relations on 14 October 1972. Sino-Maldivian economic cooperation and trade volume were for long insignificant, with total trade in 2002 of only US$3 million. Economic ties have recently become more important with large inflows of Chinese tourists to the Maldives since 2010.[5] Capital inflows from China have also rapidly increased since 2008. China's main exports to Maldives are rice and consumer goods.[6] The relations between China and Maldives have increased in Mohamed Nasheed's presidential term. However, before being elected for president, Mohamed Nasheed criticized the Chinese Communist Party saying relations with Communist Chinese were never acceptable due to their views regarding modern democracy. However under president Yaameen, both countries have developed a close relations. Chinese investments and Aid to Maldives increased. Best example of China - Maldives raising relations is the Chinese-Maldives friendship bridge.

Bilateral relations between the Republic of India and the Republic of Maldives have been friendly and close in strategic, economic and military cooperation.[7][8] India contributed to maintaining security on the island nation and has forged an alliance with respect to its strategic interests in the Indian Ocean.[8][9]

India and Maldives officially and amicably decided their maritime boundary in 1976,[8] although a minor diplomatic incident occurred in 1982 when the brother of the President of Maldives Maumoon Abdul Gayoom declared that the neighbouring Minicoy Island that belonged to India were a part of Maldives; Maldivies quickly and officially denied that it was laying claim to the island.[8] India and Maldives signed a comprehensive trade agreement in 1981.[10] Both nations are founding members of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), the South Asian Economic Union and signatories to the South Asia Free Trade Agreement. Indian and Maldivian leaders have maintained high-level contacts and consultations on regional issues.[7]

Diplomatic relations between Maldives and India were established on 1 November 1965.43

The Malaysian High Commission in Colombo is also cross-accredited to the Maldives,[11] and Maldives has a high commission in Kuala Lumpur.[12]

Maldives and Myanmar established diplomatic relations on 15 January 1970.40 In September 2017, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Maldives announced that it was ceasing all trade ties with Myanmar in response to the government's treatment of the Rohingya people in Rakhine State.[13]

In November 2004, Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz visited the Maldives and met with President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom. Aziz offered to extend credit facility, scholarships, collaboration in scientific and technological fields and training of civil servants, defence and security personnel to Maldives.[14] In October 2005, Pakistan-Maldives Joint Economic Commission commenced.[15]

The establishment of diplomatic relations of Maldives and South Korea were on 30 November 1967 and Bilateral Trade in 2012 was Exports $3.67 million Imports $380 thousand.[16]

Official and economic relations between the neighbouring Indian Ocean countries of the Maldives and Sri Lanka, have been positive since the Maldives became independent in 1965. The Maldives first established a mission in Sri Lanka in July 1965, and today has a High Commission in Colombo.[17] Sri Lanka has a high commission in Malé.[18] Both countries were founding members of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) in December 1985.[19] On 13 February 2014 Zahiya Zareer was appointed by President Abdulla Yameen as High Commissioner to Sri Lanka.[20]

The Maldives has an embassy in Bangkok and Thailand is accredited to the Maldives via its embassy in Colombo, Sri Lanka

The Maldives established diplomatic relations with Israel in 1965 and suspended them in 1974.[21]

In 2009, under president Mohamed Nasheed, the Maldives signed cooperation agreements with Israel on tourism, health, and education and culture.[22] In 2010, the Israeli government sent a team of eye doctors to treat patients and train local medical personnel in the Maldives.[23] However, the renewed relationship did not develop into full diplomatic relations.[23][24]

In July 2014, under president Abdulla Yameen, the Maldives terminated the cooperation agreements with Israel and announced a boycott of Israeli products, as Israel launched a military operation in Gaza. Foreign minister Dunya Maumoon also announced that the Maldives would fully support Palestinians at international forums such as the United Nations Human Rights Council and offer them humanitarian aid.[25]

On 12 May 2008, the Maldivian embassy was opened in Riyadh which was the first Maldivian mission in the Middle East.42

Both the Maldives and Mauritius were former British Indian Ocean possessions, and both now have similar tourist-oriented economies.[26] Relations between the two islands are friendly, and there is some economic cooperation.[27]

U.S. President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama and Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed in 2009

The Maldives established diplomatic relations with the United States on 10 November 1965 and the two nations maintain friendly relations.

The U.S. ambassador to Sri Lanka, based in the U.S. embassy in Colombo, is also cross-accredited to the Maldives, and the ambassador and embassy staff make periodic visits. The United States supports Maldivian independence and territorial integrity, and publicly endorsed India's timely intervention on behalf of the Maldivian Government during the 1988 Maldives coup d'état attempt. U.S. Navy vessels have regularly called at Malé in recent years. The Maldives extended strong support to U.S. efforts to combat terrorism and terrorist financing in 2001–2002.

• Cyprus and the Maldives do maintain diplomatic relations.
• Both countries established diplomatic relations on 1 November 1997.[28][29]
• Cyprus is represented in the Maldives by its High Commission in New Delhi, India.[30]
• Both countries are full members of the Commonwealth of Nations.

Finland recognized the Maldives on 15 October 1965. Diplomatic relations between Maldives and Finland were established on 10 August 1984.

The Maldives and the Federal Republic of Germany established diplomatic relations in 1966.[31]

• Both countries established diplomatic relations on 6 December 1983.[29]
• Greece is represented in Sri Lanka by ts embassy in New Delhi, India.[32]
• Maldives have an honorary consulate in Athens.[32]

The Maldives recognized Kosovo on 19 February 2009.[33] On 16 April 2009, Kosovo and the Maldives established diplomatic relations with one another.[34]

On 7 March, the then Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed asked police to investigate the allegations of a US$2 million bribe given to Maldivian government officials to recognise Kosovo as an independent state.[35] On 17 March, People's Majlis National Security Committee launched probe into Islamic Democratic Party's allegations regarding the bribery.[36] Balkan Insight reported that Kosovo businessman, Behgjet Pacolli, who also heads the New Kosovo Alliance party, has denied any involvement in the bribery case and stated that he only lobbied for the recognition of Kosovo.[37] Foreign Minister Ahmed Shaheed was cross-examined by the parliamentary committee on 28 March.[38] The police investigation was closed on 6 May 2009, concluding that there was no evidence of corruption and the diplomatic process was conducted according to international standards; the NSC investigation was suspended.[39]

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 28 May 1979.[40][29]

The Maldives became a British Protectorate in the 19th century and the Maldivian monarchs were granted a good measure of self-governance. The Maldives gained total independence in 1965.[41] The maritime border with the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) remains undemarcated, with negotiations with the UK being broken off by the Maldives in the late 1990s.[42][43]