International.

On September 29, 2026, Minister of Health, Family and Welfare Jeela Ali officially signed the "Bogota Call to Action," an international declaration calling for an end to violence against children and the strengthening of child protection systems, on behalf of the Maldivian government. The Maldives' signing of this declaration will provide additional impetus to the implementation of the "National Action Plan on Prevention and Response to Violence Against Children 2024–2028," which was formulated at the national level to combat violence against children. In addition, the importance of maintaining a sound foreign policy to protect national interests amid shifting global geopolitical tides was also emphasized.

While reports circulated on 28 September 2026 alleging that information on 15 Maldivians who spoke out on social media against the Rasmale project had been obtained and that the UAE had begun blacklisting them, no official authority has confirmed this. Following the passing of Dr. Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali, wife of former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, at the age of 100 on 28 September 2026 at the National Heart Institute in Kuala Lumpur, a decision has been made to hold a state funeral. Furthermore, to further strengthen relations between the Maldives and Malaysia, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu and Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim have agreed to establish a joint commission between the two countries and to hold its first meeting before the end of 2026.

Addressing the 81st Session of the UN General Assembly, Vice President of the Maldives Hussain Mohamed Latheef called for an end to the genocide being carried out by Israel in Gaza and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state based on the pre-1967 borders. On the sidelines of this trip, Maldivian Foreign Minister Irukisham Adam signed key political consultation agreements with Angola, Croatia, and Kenya. In addition, the Vice President held high-level discussions with UN Secretary-General António Guterres and Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. Furthermore, in protest, the Maldivian delegation walked out of the Assembly hall before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu began his address to the UN General Assembly.

Speaking at the 81st session of the UN General Assembly, Vice President Hussain Mohamed Latheef called for the establishment of an independent State of Palestine based on pre-1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, and for granting full UN membership to the nation. President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu highlighted the achievements of key agreements established to strengthen relations in trade and defense sectors during Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's visit to the Maldives from September 14 to 15. Although disasters were declared and floods occurred across 50 districts in Bangkok, the Maldivian Embassy in Thailand confirmed on 26 September 2026 that no Maldivians living in or visiting the city were harmed. In addition, the Prime Minister of Nepal delivered important remarks regarding warfare and food logistics.

Vice President Uz. Hussain Mohamed Latheef delivered the national statement on behalf of the Maldives at the 81st United Nations General Assembly on 25 September 2026. On the same day, when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu began his address to the General Assembly, the Maldivian delegation, led by Vice President Hussain Mohamed Latheef and Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Irukesham Adam, protested, walked out of the hall, and boycotted. In addition, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan strongly condemned the genocide being carried out by Israel in Gaza during separate meetings. Furthermore, speaking at a high-level UN meeting in New York on 25 September 2026, the Vice President stated that the relationship between the Maldives and China is not merely confined to statements, but is a reality evident in infrastructure development and sustainable connections.

China's 77th National Day and Saudi Arabia's National Day were celebrated in the Maldives, with President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu highlighting the importance of strengthening ties with these countries. On the sidelines of the 81st UN General Assembly on Thursday, September 24, 2026, an MoU establishing a framework for bilateral consultations between the Maldives and Vietnam was signed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Iruthisham Adam and Vietnam's Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Le Hoai Trung. Concurrently, under an agreement reached between the Maldives and Belarus in New York, Minister of Foreign Affairs Iruthisham Adam and Foreign Minister of Belarus Maxim Ryzhenkov signed an agreement allowing citizens of both countries to travel visa-free for 30 days per visit and up to a total of 90 days per year. Furthermore, as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu began his address at the UN General Assembly, the Maldivian delegation, including Vice President Hussain Mohamed Latheef and Minister of Foreign Affairs Iruthisham Adam, walked out of the hall in protest and in solidarity with Palestine.

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu and his spouse Sajidha Mohamed attended a special ceremony held at Kurumba Maldives on 23 September 2026 to celebrate the 96th National Day of Saudi Arabia. Former President Mohamed Nasheed met with Sri Lankan lawyers on 23 September 2026 and stated that he would assist on humanitarian grounds in efforts to save Sivarasah Anojan, a Sri Lankan national sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia for allegedly insulting Islam. Furthermore, on the sidelines of the 81st UN General Assembly, Vice President of the Maldives Hussain Mohamed Latheef met with Bangladesh's Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and discussed further strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries.

Advocating for the equal representation of all nations at the United Nations, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has called for reforms to the international system to guarantee the rights of small island developing states. Furthermore, on 22 September 2026 in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, Minister of Foreign Affairs Iruthisham Adam and Kenya's Prime Cabinet Secretary and Minister for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Dr. Musalia Mudavadi signed a Memorandum of Understanding to hold political consultations between the Maldives and Kenya.

A special training programme has commenced and is underway to strengthen relations and enhance capacity between the two countries. This programme is an important activity conducted to further bolster mutual cooperation and exchange expertise.

To participate in the High-Level Week of the 81st Session of the UN General Assembly, a delegation led by Maldivian Vice President Uz. Hussain Mohamed Latheef departed for New York, USA, on the evening of 19 September 2026. Minister of Foreign Affairs Iruthisham Adam and Minister of Education Dr. Ismail Shafeeu are participating in this trip, during which, in addition to delivering the Maldives' statement at the General Debate on 25 September 2026, he is scheduled to deliver remarks at the High-Level Plenary Meeting on Sea-Level Rise and the Global Development Initiative meeting, as well as hold meetings with UN Secretary-General António Guterres and Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has denied reports by The Washington Post stating that 22 U.S. soldiers have died so far in the ongoing war in the Middle East. The Maldives officially joined the multinational maritime defense coalition initiated by Saudi Arabia on September 16 to ensure the security of merchant vessels in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. Additionally, the Maldives participated for the first time as a full member in the 70th General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) held in Vienna, with the delegation led by Dr. Salma Rasheed, Permanent Representative of the Maldives to the United Nations Office at Geneva.

While it was reported on September 17, 2026, that the United States refused to issue visas to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and his delegation to attend the 81st United Nations (UN) General Assembly, he will address the assembly via a pre-recorded video message. In his address to the General Assembly, Abbas will reiterate Palestine's commitment to the two-state solution and international law, while warning that Israeli settlement expansion and violence in the West Bank are narrowing the chances for establishing an independent state. Additionally, in this speech, he will announce the date for holding legislative elections and condemn Israel's attacks on Gaza.

On September 16, 2026, the Maldives officially signed the charter of the 15-nation "Multinational Maritime Defense Coalition" (MMDC), initiated by Saudi Arabia to protect critical maritime trade routes. On September 16, 2026, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced plans to facilitate a USD 100 million financing facility required by the Maldives, provide assistance through Petronas for oil and mineral exploration studies, and further strengthen bilateral ties between the two countries. On September 16, 2026, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu and the Maldivian government strongly condemned the attempted drone attacks and ongoing threats targeted at Makkah and Madinah in Saudi Arabia by the Houthis, reaffirming their steadfast solidarity with Saudi Arabia.

During the official visit of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to the Maldives at the invitation of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, following official talks held in Male' on 15 September 2026, two Memorandums of Understanding regarding defence and Islamic affairs were exchanged, and it was decided to commence negotiations on a Preferential Trade Agreement. In addition, following the interception and shooting down of drones by defence forces, security alerts issued regarding suspected drone attacks that could target Mecca, Jeddah, and Taif in Saudi Arabia were lifted within a short period, and the Ministry of Islamic Affairs confirmed that all Maldivian Umrah pilgrims present in the country at that time were safe and in good condition.

At the invitation of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim made an official visit to the Maldives from September 14 to 15, 2026, during which Memorandums of Understanding on defense and Islamic affairs were signed, and discussions were held regarding a Preferential Trade Agreement and a USD 100 million currency swap facility. Bangladesh reaffirmed that it will strengthen cooperation with the Maldives in the areas of climate finance, blue economy, and green initiatives to overcome climate risks and increase environmental resilience. The Foreign Minister of Oman issued an important statement regarding bilateral relations.

The Maldives Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement issued on 12 September 2026, strongly condemned the drone attacks launched from Iraqi territory targeting the East-West oil pipelines in the Riyadh and Medina regions of Saudi Arabia. In addition, the President of Sri Lanka spoke out strongly criticizing that country's Rajapaksa family.

Saudi Aramco has temporarily suspended the operation of an East-West oil pipeline following drone attacks launched from within Iraqi territory targeting the pipeline and three pumping stations in the Riyadh and Medina regions of Saudi Arabia, which left civilians injured and sparked fires. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Maldives, on 12 September 2026, strongly condemned this cowardly attack threatening the sovereignty, critical infrastructure, and regional stability of Saudi Arabia, and reaffirmed that the Maldives stands firmly with the Saudi government.

At the invitation of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is scheduled to make an official visit to the Maldives from September 14 to 15, 2026, during which plans are set to sign memorandums of understanding on defense and Islamic affairs, and establish a USD 100 million currency swap agreement. Under an agreement signed on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly by Maldivian Foreign Minister Irukesham Adam and Belarusian Foreign Minister Maxim Ryzhenkov, arrangements have been made allowing citizens of both countries to travel and stay without any visa for 30 days at a time, up to a total of 90 days per year. Furthermore, following the enforcement of an agreement between the Maldives and Ghana, that country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on September 8, 2026, that Ghanaian citizens holding ordinary, service, and diplomatic passports will be able to travel to the Maldives visa-free for a period of 30 days.

On September 10, 2026, the Maldivian government officially welcomed the joint statement issued by 12 countries, including the United Kingdom, Canada, and France, which took measures against Israel's usurpation of Palestinian lands and the forced displacement of Palestinian citizens, while supporting the two-state solution. In addition, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Maldives strongly condemned the calls by Israeli ministers to expel the people of Gaza, Palestine, from their land. Furthermore, this statement reiterated the Maldives' support for the establishment of an independent, sovereign Palestinian state based on the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

While President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu sent a letter to British Prime Minister Andy Burnham on 8 September 2026 requesting direct discussions regarding sovereignty over Chagos, the UK Foreign Office officially refused to negotiate with the Maldives on 9 September 2026, stating that the Chagos issue is solely a bilateral matter between the United Kingdom and Mauritius.

The Maldivian Foreign Ministry, in a statement issued on September 8, 2026, strongly condemned the attacks carried out by the Houthis targeting civilians and economic centers in the southern Saudi Arabian cities of Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan, and Najran, describing them as acts violating the country's sovereignty. In addition, during Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's official visit to the Maldives from September 14 to 15, 2026, two memorandums of understanding regarding defense and Islamic affairs were signed, and an agreement was reached to provide the Maldives with 100 million US dollars in financial assistance.

A resolution submitted by Togo on behalf of the African Group urging the use of the "Equal Earth" map projection—which accurately represents the true relative sizes of the world's countries and continents, particularly the African continent—was passed by the UN General Assembly on September 4, 2026, with 164 countries voting in favor. Reports highlighted that replacing the "Mercator" map, which had been in use for centuries, with such an equal-area map would reveal the true geographic proportions of equatorial countries and island nations like the Maldives; with the United States voting against and 6 countries abstaining, this resolution marks an important step toward displaying landmass sizes without distortion in sectors such as education and media.

New activities have commenced to urge an end to the genocide being carried out against the people of Gaza. Chief Government Spokesperson Mohamed Hussain Shareef stated on 5 September 2026 that, following a report by 'The Wall Street Journal' alleging that Velana International Airport is being used as a transit hub to evade sanctions imposed against Russia, efforts are underway to investigate the issue and enhance the capacity of the Maldives Customs Service.

On September 4, 2026, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu announced that the Maldivian government has decided to donate one million Maldivian Rufiyaa (approximately US$ 64,600) to Nepal's Prime Minister's Disaster Relief Fund to assist victims affected by the floods and landslides in that country. Furthermore, on September 4, 2026, Sri Lanka's Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption arrested Sri Lankan Member of Parliament Namal Rajapaksa on suspicion of accepting a bribe of 100 million Sri Lankan Rupees in connection with a transaction to purchase Airbus aircraft for SriLankan Airlines.

Following a report in The Wall Street Journal alleging that the Maldives is being used as a transit hub to evade sanctions imposed against Russia, Chief Spokesperson Mohamed Hussain Shareef (Mundhu) stated that they are looking into the facts of the matter and that there is no pressure from the US or Europe. Under Thailand's new visa policy, Maldivians have been permitted to stay in the country without a visa for 30 days, with the announcement stating that this change will come into effect starting September 15, 2026.

The Maldives has welcomed its first tourist of 2026, while Minister Haidar held high-level talks with Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser. Public debate has intensified regarding the handover of Hanimaadhoo Airport operations to India. In international news, Zohran Mamdani was sworn in as the new Mayor of New York. Additionally, President Muizzu extended New Year greetings to world leaders, as global tensions rise over the ban on Israeli passports and sanctions against UNRWA.

Minister Haidar attended the funeral of former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Khaleda Zia as the President's envoy. Meanwhile, Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to release prisoners under a peace deal. As UAE troops begin withdrawing from Yemen following a Saudi deadline, international concern grows over the humanitarian situation in Gaza. Additionally, the Maldives has reaffirmed its support for the "One China Policy."

The passing of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Khaleda Zia has brought significant changes to the country's political landscape, with many mourning the loss. Simultaneously, the government today reaffirmed its commitment to the 'One China' policy regarding Taiwan. These two international events have drawn significant global attention.

On December 29, 2025, significant progress was marked in international relations and foreign affairs. Numerous discussions took place to strengthen bilateral ties and enhance international cooperation, reflecting key shifts in the global political landscape.

A powerful earthquake in Taiwan has caused significant damage, while the first general elections in Myanmar and Israel's recognition of Somaliland have drawn international attention. The Maldives has signed a debt moratorium agreement with China and expressed support for Saudi efforts in Yemen. Meanwhile, President Zelenskyy hopes for Donald Trump's assistance with Ukraine's peace proposals. Additionally, regional security agreements have been established, while the humanitarian situation in Gaza has severely deteriorated due to winter and ongoing conflict.

The Maldives has expressed full support for Saudi Arabia's efforts to resolve the conflict in Yemen, viewing it as a vital step toward regional stability. Additionally, significant international updates have emerged regarding ongoing tensions between India and Bangladesh.

Today, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy proposed a 20-point peace framework following discussions with the United States. Meanwhile, former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak has been convicted and sentenced in the 1MDB corruption case. Additionally, Israel has officially announced its intention to establish permanent settlements in Gaza.