Japan and the Maldives are set to elevate their defence relationship to a higher level, according to Japan’s State Minister of Defence, Masahisa Miyazaki.
The remarks were made following a courtesy call by the Maldives’ Ambassador to Japan, Ahmed Mahloof, during which both sides discussed enhancing defence cooperation and broader bilateral relations.
In a post on social media following the meeting, Miyazaki expressed appreciation for the Maldives’ support in facilitating the standby deployment of Japanese military aircraft for emergency situations. He also reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to further strengthening defence ties and cooperation between the two countries.
In a separate social media post, Ambassador Mahloof highlighted Japan’s longstanding support to the Maldives in areas including maritime safety and security, disaster preparedness and emergency response.
The ambassador expressed hope that the friendship, trust and cooperation between the Maldives and Japan would continue to grow stronger in the years ahead. He also noted that the two countries will mark the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations next year, describing the milestone as an opportunity to further deepen bilateral engagement and cooperation.
The Maldives and Japan maintain close ties across a range of sectors, including development cooperation, maritime affairs, disaster management and capacity-building initiatives.