Maldives participates in Commonwealth Foreign Ministers Meeting, first since rejoining organization

Maldivian Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid participated in the Commonwealth Foreign Ministers Meeting on Wednesday, the first since Maldives rejoined Commonwealth.

 Speaking during the meeting, which took place virtually on Wednesday afternoon, Shahid thanked Commonwealth member states and Secretary-General Patricia Scotland for their support in ensuring Maldives rejoined the Commonwealth.

He said that the Commonwealth is an organization where the voices of small states are always heard and always considered.

Shahid said called on member states to revisit the Commonwealth Vulnerability Index, and expressed optimism that a new Vulnerability Index, that considers the particular challenges of small states in light of COVID-19 and climate change, will be ready soon.

He also said that the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the “middle-income trap” faced by many small states, warning that without concessional finance, small states will continue to struggle combatting the double threat of COVID-19 and climate change.

“In this context, the Maldives supports the efforts by the Commonwealth in assisting member states in overcoming the negative impacts of the pandemic. We further welcome initiatives taken by the Commonwealth to ensure that member states benefit from assistance regarding economic challenges, including the Disaster Risk Finance Portal, and calling for sovereign debt relief and access to international finance markets,” he said.

Speaking of the threat of climate change, Shahid said that Maldives was delighted to subscribe to the Commonwealth Blue Charter.

“We believe in the Commonwealth’s ambition for a fair, inclusive and sustainable approach to ocean protection and economic development,” said Shahid. “We have pledged to phase-out single-use plastics by 2023 and look forward to working with the Commonwealth Clean Ocean Alliance to combat marine plastic pollution. “

Shahid concluded his speech by stating that Maldives looked forward to active engagement within the Commonwealth family once more.

Maldives left Commonwealth on October 13, 2013, during former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom’s administration, which accused the organization of attempting to exert influence over the domestic affairs of the country.

Maldives applied to rejoin the Commonwealth on December 7, 2018, in accordance with an electoral pledge made by Yameen’s successor, incumbent Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.

Maldives formally rejoined Commonwealth with the support of all member states on February 1, 2020.