European delegation visits Maldives on mission to strengthen political dialogue with South Asia

A delegation of political leaders and civil society leaders from Germany and the larger Europe, including German parliamentarians, are visiting the Maldives on a two-day tour, organized by the South Asia Regional Office of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom (FNF).

The delegation arrived in Male’ on the two-day visit on Monday.

According to FNF, the delegation includes Sandra Weeser, member of the German Bundestag; Dr. Marcus Faber, Chairperson of the Bundestag Defense Committee; Dr. Jürgen Martens, President of Deutsche Gruppe der Liberal International; and other reputed figures from German politics, economy, and civil society.

Their visit to the Maldives is part of a South Asia study tour covering India, Bangladesh, and Bhutan.

“The visit aims to intensify connections between Europe, particularly Germany, and one of the world’s dynamic growth regions of South Asia, and to highlight the potential for mutual learning,” said Dr. Carsten Klein, Regional Director of the FNF South Asia.

During their time in Male’ City, the delegation are set to hold meetings with Male’ City Mayor Adam Azim, Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)’s chairperson Fayyaz Ismail, and Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Ahmed Nazim.

They are also scheduled to make a guided tour of the Parliament, and meet with the Maldives-German Parliamentary Friendship Group.

According to FNF, these engagements are focused on democratic reforms, legislative transparency, climate change adaptation, and South Asia–Europe political collaboration.

In its statement, FNF noted that the Maldives plays a vital role in regional maritime security and Indo-Pacific stability.

“Renowned globally as a premier tourist destination and an important economic partner in fisheries, the Maldives is central to regional cooperation, climate change discussion, and sustainable ocean governance in Asia,” said the FNF.

According to FNF, the study visit is rooted in its broader vision of economic partnership and fostering liberal networks, and focuses on key themes such as economic cooperation, political engagement, climate change, skilled-labor migration and the Maldives-Germany relations.

The FNF South Asia regularly organizes study tours aimed at fostering mutual understanding of liberal democratic values and encouraging economic cooperation between South Asia and Europe.