U.S.-Maldivian Relations

The United States and Maldives have maintained friendly relations since Maldives' independence in 1965.  United States Ambassador to Maldives Robert Blake, Jr. is enthusiastic about using the new Virtual Presence Post (VPP) to further strengthen current ties between the two nations.  The VPP will serve as an information portal for U.S. and Maldivian citizens and will facilitate the Embassy’s efforts to encourage democratic reform and promote economic cooperation. 

The U.S. role in advocating democratic reform is a focal point of the U.S.-Maldivian relationship.  The U.S. continues to urge the Government of Maldives to push forward on democratization and to maintain the timeline that was set out in the government’s March 2006 “Reform Roadmap.”   The Embassy regularly engages with all political parties to encourage constructive dialogue as Maldives moves toward its inaugural multi-party election in October 2008.  The United States is committed to offering more cultural exchange programs in Maldives to enlarge the scope of moderate voices and highlight democratic values.  The U.S and Maldives also enjoy a close military-to-military relationship, including joint exercises and training opportunities for Maldivian officers at U.S. service academies.   

Maldives’ small but rapidly growing economy offers significant untapped potential for U.S. exports and investment in aviation, energy and tourism.  Approximately 5,000 Americans visit Maldives annually.  The Embassy works closely with the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) and the office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) to further economic interests between the two countries.  In addition, the Embassy continues to assist American firms with marketing their products in Maldives.

The United States is one of Maldives' largest donors of humanitarian assistance.  Following the December 2004 tsunami, the U.S. State Department provided $8.65 million in reconstruction assistance and USAID contributed $1.9 million.   The U.S. Government also contributed $100,000 in disaster recovery assistance following the May 2007 storm surges.