The United States has expressed its interest in strengthening maritime security cooperation with the Maldives as the two countries mark 60 years of diplomatic relations.
In a statement on Saturday marking the Maldives’ 61st Independence Day, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington looks forward to expanding maritime security cooperation and supporting stability in the Indian Ocean region.
Rubio also congratulated the Maldives on the country’s 61st Independence Day, observed on 26 July, and sent the United States’ best wishes.
Maritime security remains a key area of Maldives-US cooperation. According to the US Department of State, the United States has provided more than USD 10.8 million since 2018 to strengthen the Maldives’ maritime security capabilities under the Bay of Bengal Initiative. The two countries also signed a Defence and Security Framework in 2020.
