Maldives–United States relations
Bilateral relations / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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]