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The United Kingdom and the Maldives have concluded high-level Strategic Dialogue talks in Malé, agreeing to boost defense, policing, and maritime security cooperation across the Indian Ocean region.
News Desk
Senior officials from the United Kingdom and the Maldives gather during the third UK-Maldives Strategic Dialogue held in London.
MALÉ: The United Kingdom and the Maldives have agreed to expand bilateral security and defense cooperation following high-level joint Strategic Dialogue talks held between senior officials of both governments.
In a joint statement issued after the talks, the UK reaffirmed its commitment to enhance capacity-building efforts for Maldivian security forces through technical assistance, training, and operational support. Strategic discussions centered on defense cooperation, counterterrorism, protective security, policing, and broader maritime safety in the Indian Ocean region. Both delegations underscored a shared priority to maintain regional peace, stability, and maritime resilience.
Beyond defense cooperation, the two nations reviewed economic ties, highlighting the UK’s temporary suspension of tariffs on Maldivian tuna imports running from May 20, 2026, to December 31, 2028. Talks also covered climate change collaboration under the Ocean Country Partnership Programme, human rights, judicial reform, educational scholarships, and tourism, noting that over 200,000 British tourists visited the Maldives in 2025.
The talks were co-chaired by Laure Beaufils, UK Foreign Office Director for South Asia and Afghanistan, and Dr. Hala Hameed, Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Maldives. Both nations committed to maintaining annual structured dialogues to deepen bilateral relations.
