Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers Meeting

I congratulate you once again, Madam Secretary-General, on assuming your duties. The Maldives extends its full support. And Maldives will remain actively engaged. 

For the Maldives, the Commonwealth is a vital platform to amplify our voice and advance our interests.  

At the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Vancouver in 1987, the Maldives was the first to draw international attention to the threat of sea-level rise and vulnerability to climate change. We since remained steadfast in our advocacy for Small Island Developing States and climate action.

We are thankful for the assistance received from the Commonwealth Climate Finance Access Hub to build resilience to climate change. And we are eager to forge partnerships in other areas. 

Guided by the vision of President Dr Muizzu, we are committed to playing an even more active role.  

We will take on more leadership roles, host meetings and workshops, and actively shaping the Commonwealth’s future direction.   

In 2026, we look forward to co-chairing the Commonwealth Ministerial Meeting on Small States, ensuring resilient and inclusive development is at the heart of our collective agenda.  

Small States advocacy must translate across international organisations. The Commonwealth has historically taken a leading role in advocacy for Small States and SIDS. We believe it is time to revive this role and play a bridging role in aligning interests.  

But let us be clear. The storms we witness are not only in our seas but in our economies and in the very future we are trying to secure. No nation, not even the strongest, can overcome them alone.  

This is why we must act together on three urgent priorities. 

First, for several Commonwealth countries, particularly small states, the path to stronger democracy and sustainable development is obstructed by weak state capacity.  

It hinders our ability to thrive and achieve our potential to the fullest. 

Last year, at CHOGM, we agreed on the urgency of boosting state capacity of small states. 

It is crucial that we work towards implementing the commitments of the Samoa Communiqué 2024 and translate it into actual goals.  

Second, digital transformation is the key to driving economic growth. 

The Maldives under President Dr Mohamed Muizzu’s leadership, is embarking onto a new journey: ‘Maldives 2.0’, a key initiative for digital transformation.  

Through this initiative we aim to streamline government functions, reduce operational costs, and improve service efficiency by introducing interoperable systems across state institution.  

We believe that its success depends on Commonwealth-wide collaboration. We invite you to attend our side event introducing this initiative, to be held today, at 1:15pm in Conference Room 11.  

Third, unsustainable debt is suffocating small states, especially SIDS.  

Too often, debt is a burden, not a tool for development.  

We must change this. 

We propose an innovative approach: Debt Relief for Resilience Building.  

It reduces risk, leading to lower interest rates and better credit ratings. It frees up resources that can be spent on education, climate adaptation and social development. Creditors benefit too, reducing future defaults and supporting stability. 

As 2025 is the Commonwealth Year of Resilient, Innovative and Sustainable Debt, let us seize this opportunity to act boldly. 

The Commonwealth has always thrived on our shared goals and values. Together, let us shape a Commonwealth which is strong, responsive and fit for the purpose of today.  

I thank you.