The Governments of Maldives and Australia convened the second Australia-Maldives Senior Officials Talks on Monday in Canberra, marking another milestone in the growing partnership between the two Indian Ocean nations.

The discussions were co-chaired by Ms. Sarah Storey, First Assistant Secretary at Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), and Dr. Hala Hameed, Secretary of the Maldives Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Senior officials from both governments attended the meeting, which was held alongside the Defence Policy Talks earlier in the day at Australia’s Department of Defence.

Building on the inaugural talks hosted in Malé in September 2024, the meeting reaffirmed both countries’ shared vision for a peaceful, stable, and prosperous Indian Ocean region.

Australia reiterated its role as a steadfast and reliable partner to the Maldives, with discussions covering a wide range of issues including regional and national security, economic growth, democracy, governance, and respect for international law.

The two sides emphasized their commitment to collaboration and partnership in addressing shared regional and global challenges such as climate change, maritime security, gender equality, and transnational crime. Australia reaffirmed its ongoing support to help the Maldives manage the impacts of climate change, including assistance through the UN Development Program (UNDP) and the Blue Carbon Hub.

A key highlight of the partnership includes Australia’s gifting of a Guardian-class Patrol Boat, announced in June 2025 by Australian Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles and Maldives Defence Minister Mohamed Ghassan, which is expected to strengthen Maldives’ sovereignty and maritime security.

The talks also underscored Australia’s long-standing support for Maldives’ human resource development, with nearly 750 Maldivians having received Australian scholarships over the past six decades.

Both sides welcomed the growing cooperation between Maldivian and Australian tertiary and vocational institutions.

As the two nations celebrated over 50 years of diplomatic relations, officials highlighted the opening of Australia’s High Commission in Malé in 2023 as a key step in deepening bilateral ties.

The Senior Officials Talks reaffirmed both governments’ commitment to an enduring partnership and identified new opportunities for cooperation in the years ahead.