“There is a profound dependency, — a mutual dependency — between Indian Ocean and the Maldives” says Foreign Minister Shahid at CSIS in Washington DC

“There is a profound dependency, — a mutual dependency — between Indian Ocean and the Maldives” says Foreign Minister Shahid in his speech delivered at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) today, on the topic, Maldives and Indian Ocean security.

At the Round Table held at the CSIS in Washington DC, Minister Shahid stressed on the Maldives belief that a stronger partnership between the United States and the Maldives is crucial for promoting maritime security in the Indian Ocean.

Minister Shahid also stated that, such a partnership is critical for the security of the South Asia region and indeed vital for making the Maldives stronger in regional and global politics. Foreign Minister Shahid addressed the Round Table, as part of his two-day official visit to Washington DC to hold meetings with officials of the United States government.

Minister Shahid is accompanied in Washington DC, by Mr. Ahmed Khaleel, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Ali Naseer Mohamed, Permanent Representative of the Maldives to the UN and Ambassador to the United States, and officials of the Maldives Mission in New York.