US to provide Maldives with USD 8m in funding for patrol boats

The United States plans on providing the Maldives with USD 8 million in funding for four patrol boats to the Maldives.

The proposed assistance was discussed during a meeting between Maldivian Foreign Minister, Moosa Zameer and the US Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources, Richard Verma.

The meeting took place in Male’ on Thursday.

According to State Department spokesperson Mathew Miller, the meeting sought to advance “shared priorities in increasing economic cooperation, promoting maritime security, and boosting people-to-people ties.”

At the meeting the two sides discussed plans for the US to provide USD 8 million in funding for four patrol boats, which Washington said will “help Maldives monitor its waters and deter malign influence by state and non-state actors and other threats to Maldives’ sovereignty.”

During his visit to Male’, Verma also held a joint meeting with Zameer, Economic Minister Mohamed Saeed, Defense Minister Ghassan Maumoon, Homeland Minister Ali Ihusan, Environment Minister Thoriq Ibrahim, and Fisheries Minister Ahmed Shiyam.

At the meeting, Verma highlighted opportunities for the US and Maldives to expand bilateral cooperation and people-to-people ties, through the opening of a new U.S. Embassy in Maldives and re-opening of Maldives’ Embassy in Washington, D.C.