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{{Infobox Bilateral relations|Maldives – United States|Maldives|USA|filetype=svg}}


'''Maldives – United States relations''' are [[Bilateral relations]] between the [[Maldives]] and the [[United States]].
{{Infobox Bilateral relations|Maldives–United States|Maldives|USA|filetype=svg}}


The [[United States]] has friendly relations with the [[Republic of Maldives]] since the nation's independence from the [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland|United Kingdom]] in 1966.<ref>{{cite web |title=Policy & History |url=https://mv.usmission.gov/our-relationship/policy-history/ |website=U.S. Mission to Maldives |access-date=4 October 2020}}</ref> The [[List of ambassadors of the United States to Sri Lanka and the Maldives|U.S. ambassador]] and some Embassy staff in [[Sri Lanka]] are accredited to the Maldives and make periodic visits. On the other hand, Maldives is represented in U.S. through its Permanent Mission to the UN at [[New York City]] (see also [[Headquarters of the United Nations]]).
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== History ==


The [[United States]] has friendly relations with the [[Republic of Maldives]]. The U.S. Ambassador and some Embassy staff in [[Sri Lanka]] are accredited to the Maldives and 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 November 1988 [[coup]] attempt. U.S. Naval vessels have regularly called at [[Male']] in recent years. The Maldives extended strong support to U.S. efforts to [[Counterterrorism|combat terrorism]] and [[terrorist financing]] in 2001-2002.
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|November 1988 coup attempt]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Operation Cactus: India's 1988 intervention in the Maldives |url=http://pragati.nationalinterest.in/2014/04/operation-cactus-indias-1988-intervention-in-the-maldives/ |website=Pragati |access-date=4 October 2020 |date=18 April 2014}}</ref> U.S. Naval vessels have regularly called at [[Malé]] in recent years. The Maldives extended strong support to U.S. efforts to [[Counterterrorism|combat terrorism]] and [[terrorist financing]] in 2001–2002.
[[File:BlakeNovember2007.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Former Ambassador [[Robert O. Blake, Jr.]] in November 2007]]
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U.S. contributions to economic development in the Maldives have been made principally through international organization programs. Following the [[2004 tsunami|December 2004 tsunami]], the U.S. and Maldives signed a bilateral assistance agreement for $8.6 million in reconstruction assistance. This assistance will help in the rebuilding of [[harbors]], sewage systems, and electrical generation facilities and in the development of aid absorption capacity in the Ministry of Finance. The United States has directly funded training in [[airport]] management and [[narcotics]] interdiction and provided [[desktop computers]] for Maldivian [[customs]], [[immigration]], and drug-control efforts in recent years. The United States also trains a small number of Maldivian military personnel annually. About 10 U.S. citizens are resident in the Maldives; some 5,000 Americans visit the Maldives annually. The Maldives welcomes foreign investment, although the ambiguity of codified law acts as somewhat of a damper. Areas of opportunity for U.S. businesses include [[tourism]], [[construction]], and simple export-oriented [[manufacturing]], such as garments and electrical appliance assembly. There is a shortage of local skilled labor, and most industrial labor has to be imported from Sri Lanka or elsewhere.


The United States values the Maldives as a crucial ally in security matters and has actively engaged in [[counterterrorism]] efforts and trade initiatives with Malé, highlighted by a significant defense cooperation agreement in 2020. This increased collaboration comes as China expands its influence in the region. Despite these efforts, the U.S. only established its embassy in the Maldives in 2023, and the economic assistance it has provided, totaling $36 million over the last five years, has been relatively modest compared to contributions from China and [[India]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Maldives Is Moving Toward China. Here’s What to Know. |url=https://www.cfr.org/in-brief/maldives-moving-toward-china-heres-what-know |access-date=2024-05-07 |website=Council on Foreign Relations |language=en}}</ref>
[[Patricia A. Butenis]] is the U.S. Ambassador to the Maldives. The relevant U.S. Embassy is in [[Colombo]], Sri Lanka.

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==History==
[[File:Mohamed Nasheed with Obamas.jpg|thumb|right|Former U.S. President [[Barack Obama]], First Lady [[Michelle Obama]] and former President [[Mohamed Nasheed]] in 2009]]
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U.S. contributions to economic development in the Maldives have been made principally through international organization programs. Following the [[2004 tsunami|December 2004 tsunami]], the U.S. and Maldives signed a bilateral assistance agreement for $8.6 million in reconstruction assistance. This assistance will help in the rebuilding of [[harbors]], sewage systems, and electrical generation facilities and in the development of aid absorption capacity in the Ministry of Finance. The United States has directly funded training in [[airport]] management and [[narcotics]] interdiction and provided [[desktop computers]] for Maldivian [[customs]], [[immigration]], and drug-control efforts in recent years. The United States also trains a small number of Maldivian military personnel annually. About 10 U.S. citizens are resident in the Maldives; some 5,000 Americans visit the Maldives annually.<ref>{{cite web |title=Maldives |url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/5476.htm |website=U.S. Department of State |access-date=4 October 2020}}</ref>

[[Hugo Yon]] is the current [[List of ambassadors of the United States to Sri Lanka and the Maldives|U.S. Ambassador]] to the Maldives.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-09-06|title=PN2031 - Nomination of Alaina B. Teplitz for Department of State, 115th Congress (2017-2018)|url=https://www.congress.gov/nomination/115th-congress/2031|access-date=2020-05-03|website=www.congress.gov}}</ref> The relevant U.S. Embassy is in [[Colombo]], Sri Lanka. [[United States Secretary of State|Secretary of State]] [[Mike Pompeo]] announced during a trip to the Maldives that the United States would be opening an embassy in [[Malé]]. The opening of an embassy will combat growing Chinese influence in a country that stretches through crucial shipping lanes.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Verma |first1=Pranshu |title=U.S. to Establish Embassy in the Maldives |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/28/us/politics/us-embassy-maldives.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=30 October 2020 |date=28 October 2020}}</ref>

== Defense ==

The United States and the Maldives have been deepening their military and political ties since the election of [[Ibrahim Mohamed Solih]] as [[President of the Maldives]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=De Silva |first1=Rohantha |title=The US reinforces political and military relations with the Maldives |url=https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2019/03/15/mald-m15.html |website=World Socialist Web Site |date=15 March 2019 |access-date=4 October 2020 |language=en}}</ref> In September 2020 the United States and Maldives signed a defense agreement with each other in Philadelphia.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Maldives and U.S. Sign Defense Agreement |url=https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Releases/Release/Article/2344512/the-maldives-and-us-sign-defense-agreement/ |website=U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE |access-date=4 October 2020}}</ref> The agreement had been in the works since 2013, but had previously been blocked by the Indian government's opposition to the agreement. Indian officials have since welcomed the agreement saying that Maldives is part of the [[Indo-Pacific#Geopolitical context|Indo-Pacific]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Rej |first1=Abhijnan |title=India Welcomes US-Maldives Defense Cooperation Agreement in a Sign of Times |url=https://thediplomat.com/2020/09/india-welcomes-us-maldives-defense-cooperation-agreement-in-a-sign-of-times/ |website=thediplomat.com |access-date=4 October 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Mitra |first1=Devirupa |title=Seven Years On, India Now Backs a Defence Pact Between the US and Maldives |url=https://thewire.in/south-asia/seven-years-on-india-now-backs-a-defence-pact-between-the-us-and-maldives |website=The Wire |access-date=4 October 2020}}</ref> The United States is one of several countries that provides military aid to broaden the capacity of the [[Maldives National Defence Force|Maldivian Armed Forces]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Mohamed |first1=Shahudha |title=Chief of Defence denies foreign military presence in Maldives |url=https://edition.mv/news/18964 |website=The Edition |access-date=4 October 2020 |language=en}}</ref>

== Aid ==
The United States donated 60 ventilators to Maldives during the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{cite web|title=The United States Donates 60 Ventilators to Maldives to Respond to COVID-19 - Maldives|url=https://reliefweb.int/report/maldives/united-states-donates-60-ventilators-maldives-respond-covid-19|access-date=4 October 2020|website=ReliefWeb|date=29 September 2020 |language=en}}</ref> The United States also gave a grant of $2 million for economic support during the pandemic and $150,000 worth of [[personal protective equipment]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Mohamed|first1=Shahudha|title=USA donates equipment for frontliners of Maldives' COVID-19 response|url=https://edition.mv/news/18069|access-date=4 October 2020|website=The Edition|language=en}}</ref>


== References ==
== References ==
<references />
{{StateDept}}[http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/5476.htm]


==External links==
==External links==
*[http://history.state.gov/countries/maldives History of Maldives - U.S. relations]
*[https://history.state.gov/countries/maldives History of Maldives - U.S. relations]
{{Commons category|Maldives – United States relations}}
{{Commons category|Relations of the Maldives and the United States}}
*[http://www.maldivesembassy.us Embassy of the Republic of Maldives to the U.S.]
*[http://www.maldivesembassy.us Embassy of the Republic of Maldives to the U.S.]
*[http://maldives.usvpp.gov U.S. Virtual Presence Post-Maldives]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070915093020/http://maldives.usvpp.gov/ U.S. Virtual Presence Post-Maldives]


{{Foreign relations of the Maldives}}
{{Foreign relations of the Maldives}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Maldives-United States relations}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Maldives-United States relations}}
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[[Category:Maldives–United States relations| ]]
[[Category:Bilateral relations of the United States]]
[[Category:Bilateral relations of the United States]]
[[Category:Bilateral relations of the Maldives|United States]]
[[Category:Bilateral relations of the Maldives|United States]]
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[[Category:Maldives–United States relations|*]]

Latest revision as of 15:26, 7 May 2024

Maldives–United States relations
Map indicating locations of Maldives and USA

Maldives
United States

The United States has friendly relations with the Republic of Maldives since the nation's independence from the United Kingdom in 1966.[1] The U.S. ambassador and some Embassy staff in Sri Lanka are accredited to the Maldives and make periodic visits. On the other hand, Maldives is represented in U.S. through its Permanent Mission to the UN at New York City (see also Headquarters of the United Nations).

The United States supports Maldivian independence and territorial integrity, and publicly endorsed India's timely intervention on behalf of the Maldivian Government during the November 1988 coup attempt.[2] U.S. Naval 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.

The United States values the Maldives as a crucial ally in security matters and has actively engaged in counterterrorism efforts and trade initiatives with Malé, highlighted by a significant defense cooperation agreement in 2020. This increased collaboration comes as China expands its influence in the region. Despite these efforts, the U.S. only established its embassy in the Maldives in 2023, and the economic assistance it has provided, totaling $36 million over the last five years, has been relatively modest compared to contributions from China and India.[3]

History

[edit]
Former U.S. President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama and former President Mohamed Nasheed in 2009

U.S. contributions to economic development in the Maldives have been made principally through international organization programs. Following the December 2004 tsunami, the U.S. and Maldives signed a bilateral assistance agreement for $8.6 million in reconstruction assistance. This assistance will help in the rebuilding of harbors, sewage systems, and electrical generation facilities and in the development of aid absorption capacity in the Ministry of Finance. The United States has directly funded training in airport management and narcotics interdiction and provided desktop computers for Maldivian customs, immigration, and drug-control efforts in recent years. The United States also trains a small number of Maldivian military personnel annually. About 10 U.S. citizens are resident in the Maldives; some 5,000 Americans visit the Maldives annually.[4]

Hugo Yon is the current U.S. Ambassador to the Maldives.[5] The relevant U.S. Embassy is in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced during a trip to the Maldives that the United States would be opening an embassy in Malé. The opening of an embassy will combat growing Chinese influence in a country that stretches through crucial shipping lanes.[6]

Defense

[edit]

The United States and the Maldives have been deepening their military and political ties since the election of Ibrahim Mohamed Solih as President of the Maldives.[7] In September 2020 the United States and Maldives signed a defense agreement with each other in Philadelphia.[8] The agreement had been in the works since 2013, but had previously been blocked by the Indian government's opposition to the agreement. Indian officials have since welcomed the agreement saying that Maldives is part of the Indo-Pacific.[9][10] The United States is one of several countries that provides military aid to broaden the capacity of the Maldivian Armed Forces.[11]

Aid

[edit]

The United States donated 60 ventilators to Maldives during the COVID-19 pandemic.[12] The United States also gave a grant of $2 million for economic support during the pandemic and $150,000 worth of personal protective equipment.[13]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Policy & History". U.S. Mission to Maldives. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  2. ^ "Operation Cactus: India's 1988 intervention in the Maldives". Pragati. 18 April 2014. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  3. ^ "The Maldives Is Moving Toward China. Here's What to Know". Council on Foreign Relations. Retrieved 2024-05-07.
  4. ^ "Maldives". U.S. Department of State. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  5. ^ "PN2031 - Nomination of Alaina B. Teplitz for Department of State, 115th Congress (2017-2018)". www.congress.gov. 2018-09-06. Retrieved 2020-05-03.
  6. ^ Verma, Pranshu (28 October 2020). "U.S. to Establish Embassy in the Maldives". The New York Times. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  7. ^ De Silva, Rohantha (15 March 2019). "The US reinforces political and military relations with the Maldives". World Socialist Web Site. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  8. ^ "The Maldives and U.S. Sign Defense Agreement". U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  9. ^ Rej, Abhijnan. "India Welcomes US-Maldives Defense Cooperation Agreement in a Sign of Times". thediplomat.com. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  10. ^ Mitra, Devirupa. "Seven Years On, India Now Backs a Defence Pact Between the US and Maldives". The Wire. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  11. ^ Mohamed, Shahudha. "Chief of Defence denies foreign military presence in Maldives". The Edition. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  12. ^ "The United States Donates 60 Ventilators to Maldives to Respond to COVID-19 - Maldives". ReliefWeb. 29 September 2020. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  13. ^ Mohamed, Shahudha. "USA donates equipment for frontliners of Maldives' COVID-19 response". The Edition. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
[edit]
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