The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Maldives, Dr Abdulla Khaleel, held official talks with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Arab Republic of Egypt, Dr Badr Abdelatty, in Cairo today, marking a significant step forward in reinforcing the longstanding partnership between the two nations.
The meeting, held at Tahrir Palace, reaffirmed the enduring bonds of friendship and cooperation between the Maldives and Egypt, rooted in shared religious, cultural, and historical ties spanning more than five decades.
During the visit, the two Ministers signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Political Consultations between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of both countries. The agreement formalises the consultation mechanism established in 2019, providing a structured framework for regular dialogue on bilateral, regional, and international issues of mutual interest.
The MoU was signed by Dr Abdulla Khaleel on behalf of the Government of Maldives and Dr Badr Ahmed Mohamed Abdelatty on behalf of the Government of Egypt, during a ceremony held at Tahrir Palace.
Following the signing, Minister Khaleel highlighted the deep-rooted ties between the Maldives and Egypt and expressed confidence that the MoU would further strengthen cooperation and enhance people-to-people relations. He also noted that two successful rounds of consultations have already taken place — in Cairo (2019) and Malé (2023) — reflecting the shared commitment of both nations to sustained diplomatic engagement.
The discussions between the two Foreign Ministers focused on expanding cooperation in several key areas. Minister Khaleel conveyed appreciation for Egypt’s continued support to the Maldives, particularly through Al-Azhar University scholarships, which have benefitted generations of Maldivian students and contributed to educational development.
Both Ministers also explored new avenues for collaboration in the health sector, including the exchange of expertise, and in economic and trade partnerships, with an emphasis on agriculture and food security. They also discussed opportunities to expand tourism cooperation, including increasing arrivals and strengthening people-to-people connections between the two countries.
The Ministers exchanged views on pressing regional and international developments. Dr. Khaleel commended Egypt’s steadfast leadership in supporting the Palestinian cause and reaffirmed the Maldives’ firm solidarity with the people of Palestine in their legitimate pursuit of an independent and sovereign State, based on pre-1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.
He also congratulated the Egyptian leadership for the successful hosting of the Gaza Peace Summit, which resulted in the signing of a ceasefire agreement — a crucial step towards easing the suffering of civilians and advancing the prospects for lasting peace in the region.
Both Ministers reiterated their commitment to continued collaboration at the multilateral level, in pursuit of peace, stability, and sustainable development.
The meeting concluded with both sides expressing confidence that relations between the Maldives and Egypt will continue to strengthen in the years ahead, building on more than five decades of close diplomatic ties and mutual goodwill.
Foreign Minister Dr Abdulla Khaleel was accompanied by Secretary Dr Hala Hameed and Additional Secretary Ms Khadeeja Najeeha of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
