Maldives Set to Receive Four Patrol Boats with USD 8 Million US Funding

The United States has announced plans to allocate USD 8 million in funding to the Maldives, aiming to bolster maritime security through the provision of four patrol boats. 

The proposal emerged following discussions between Maldivian Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer and US Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources, Richard Verma, during a meeting held in Male’ on Thursday.

State Department spokesperson Mathew Miller affirmed that the meeting was geared towards advancing mutual interests, including enhancing economic cooperation, fortifying maritime security measures, and fostering closer interpersonal connections.

Central to the deliberations was the envisaged allocation of USD 8 million by the US to facilitate the acquisition of four patrol boats by the Maldives. Washington contends that this assistance will enable the Maldives to effectively monitor its maritime territories, thwart potential threats from both state and non-state actors, and safeguard its sovereignty.

During his visit to Male’, Verma engaged in a collective session with a delegation comprising Zameer, Economic Minister Mohamed Saeed, Defense Minister Ghassan Maumoon, Homeland Minister Ali Ihusan, Environment Minister Thoriq Ibrahim, and Fisheries Minister Ahmed Shiyam.

In this forum, Verma underscored the prospects for bilateral collaboration between the US and the Maldives, emphasising the significance of broadening cooperation and interpersonal connections. He also broached the subject of establishing a new U.S. Embassy in the Maldives, alongside the reopening of the Maldivian Embassy in Washington, D.C.