Presidents: The security of Indian Ocean crucial to Maldives and Seychelles

Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and Seychellois President Wavel Ramkalawan, on Monday, stressing the importance of the security of Indian Ocean region to both Maldives and Seychelles, has expressed willingness to enhance collaboration between both nations to ensure the security and peace of the Indian Ocean region.

President Solih and President Ramkalawan delivered a joint statement at the President’s Office on Monday following a fruitful meeting.

During the joint statement, both leaders highlighted the similarities between their countries, including culture, livelihoods, and ways of living. They expressed their commitment to strengthening bilateral relations, emphasizing the importance of ocean resources to both countries' economies and the significance of Indian Ocean security for regional peace and stability.

Both leaders said they identified climate change and its impacts as a primary concern for respective nations. In this trajectory, President Solih emphasized the need for cooperation between the two countries to share experiences and address the developmental challenges of climate change. He further noted that various issues of mutual interest were discussed during the official talks, as were ways to strengthen relations between the two countries.

President Solih also briefed on the four agreements that were exchanged between the nations today, citing their purpose to be promoting people-to-people exchanges and interactions. They include an agreement on mutual exemption of visa requirements, an air services agreement, an agreement on the development of the youth, and an agreement to cooperate on combatting transnational organized crime and maritime and security safety threats.

It was noted that both leaders agreed to collaborate in addressing security concerns in the Indian Ocean region, including emerging threats such as piracy, drug trafficking, terrorism, and illegal fishing. The agreement signed to cooperate on combatting transnational organized crime and maritime and security safety threats was described by President Solih as a step forward in enhancing collaboration and cooperation on combatting transnational organized crime and maritime and security safety threats.

Concluding their joint statement, President Solih and President Ramkalawan reaffirmed their commitment to be close partners in addressing issues of mutual interest.