International

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu graced a special ceremony held in the Maldives on Thursday, 24 September 2026, to commemorate the 77th National Day of China. Speaking at the ceremony, the President noted that China is a crucial partner in the Maldives' journey toward becoming a developed nation. Furthermore, he highlighted that relations between the two countries have strengthened even further following his state visit to China, with the direct benefits of this partnership being evident in the lives of the Maldivian people. During this ceremony, the determination to further solidify the longstanding friendship and cooperation between both nations was renewed.

In connection with the activities held to celebrate the National Day of Saudi Arabia, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu delivered remarks highlighting the importance of further strengthening the long-standing fraternal relations between the two countries. On this occasion, President Dr. Muizzu extended the day's well wishes to the leaders and the people of Saudi Arabia, commending the relationship of Islamic solidarity and cooperation that exists between the Maldives and Saudi Arabia. He also noted in his speech that the Maldivian government always stands ready to expand relations across various fields for the mutual benefit and interest of both nations. Furthermore, the President expressed gratitude for the cooperation and assistance provided by Saudi Arabia towards the development of the Maldives, wishing the nation further progress and prosperity.

An official agreement was signed between Maldives and Belarus on 24 September 2026 to establish visa-free travel between the two countries. In this ceremony held in New York on the sidelines of the High-Level Week of the 81st Session of the UN General Assembly, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Iruthisham Adam signed on behalf of the Maldives, while the Minister of Foreign Affairs Maxim Ryzhenkov signed on behalf of Belarus. Under this agreement, citizens of both countries can enter, exit, and transit without obtaining a prior visa for a period of up to 30 days per single entry, and not exceeding a total of 90 days within a calendar year. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted that this decision will strengthen bilateral ties and provide immense ease and convenience to Maldivian students pursuing higher education in Belarus as well as to travelers.

During the United Nations General Assembly meeting held on Thursday, September 24, 2026, the Maldivian delegation walked out of the hall as the Prime Minister of Israel began his address. The Maldivian delegation exited the hall at that moment to protest against the inhumane acts and war crimes being committed by Israel against the Palestinian people. In addition to the Maldivian delegation, representatives from several other countries also boycotted the Israeli Prime Minister's speech and left the hall. This decision by the Maldives is an important step demonstrating the nation's steadfast foreign policy in defense of Palestine's independence and rights in the international arena.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on holding official bilateral consultations between the Maldives and Vietnam was signed on 24 September 2026. The agreement was signed at a meeting held on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York, USA. Minister of Foreign Affairs Iruthisham Adam signed the MoU on behalf of the Maldives, while Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung signed on behalf of Vietnam. The main objective of this agreement is to further strengthen relations between the two countries and establish a framework for conducting regular official consultations between the two foreign ministries on bilateral relations as well as important regional and international matters.