Malé, Maldives — The Secretary of State of the United States, Michael R. Pompeo will be having an official trip to the Maldives according to media reports.
The visit from Pompeo comes after Maldives had recently signed a Framework for a Defence and Security Relationship agreement with the United States on September.
According to the US Department of Defence, the agreement was intended “to deepen engagement and cooperation in support of maintaining peace and security in the Indian Ocean, and marks an important step forward” in the partnership between the two countries.
The Defense Minister of Maldives stated that the agreement signed will help the country:
- In strengthening the country’s defence system.
- Increase the maritime security of the country.
- In conducting operations with the US incase of natural disasters.
- Providing human aid.
- In strengthening the country’s act against the terrorism and extremist views.
According to International media reports, Pompeo, one of the most important and powerful member of the US, will be visiting the Maldives after his trip to the neighboring country India. A draft schedule of the trip of Pompeo leaked from the Sri Lankan media also reveals that the Secretary Pompeo will also be visiting Sri Lanka after the island nation.
Although the date of his arrival to Maldives was not mentioned in the reports, media reports say that he will be traveling to India by the dates October 26th or 27th. Despite facing terrible Covid-19 days in the country, the United States had still aided the Maldives with 60 ventilators.
