Maldives Warns Rising Sea Levels Pose Serious Security Threats

Foreign Minister Dr Abdulla Khaleel has warned that rising sea levels are creating serious multidimensional security threats for vulnerable nations.

The minister delivered the remarks at a side event in Munich titled “Rising Seas, Rising Risks: How to Respond to the Multidimensional Security Challenges Posed by Sea Level Rise.” The event was co-hosted by the Global Centre for Climate Mobility and the Robert Bosch Stiftung on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference.

Minister emphasised that while climate change is a global challenge, its impacts are unevenly distributed. Small island developing states, including the Maldives, contribute only minimally to global emissions but face some of the most severe consequences, such as rising sea levels and increasingly extreme weather events.

The minister outlined the Maldives’ ongoing adaptation efforts, highlighting the development of Rasmalé, an elevated ‘safe city’ designed to withstand projected sea-level rise, alongside continued investment in resilient infrastructure.

He cautioned, however, that adaptation alone would not be sufficient to address the wider global security implications of climate change, calling for concrete international action backed by strong political will. He concluded by reaffirming the Maldives’ commitment to climate advocacy, stressing that global solidarity will be crucial to protect vulnerable nations and ensure a sustainable future.