Maldives is set to co-chair the Commonwealth’s Ministerial Meeting on Small States (CMMSS) to be held in 2026. The decision was announced during the ongoing Ministerial Meeting of the Small States ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Samoa.
In a statement released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Maldives is set to assume the role of co-chair of this meeting along with the host country of CHOGM in 2026. As the co-chair, the Maldives will focus on continuing the advocacy efforts in support of the interests of the Small States. The ministry stated that this role will further enhance the Maldives’s efforts in championing the cause of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) on the global stage.
During the ongoing meeting of the CMMSS in the margins of CHOGM, Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Abdulla Khaleel engaged with foreign ministers from Commonwealth member states. The discussions primarily focused on pressing issues facing small states, including economic vulnerability, climate action, and access to finance.
Furthermore, Minister Dr. Khaleel underscored the need for financial reforms to address the challenges faced by small states. The minister urged for stronger commitments on climate finance ahead of the COP29 and called for enhanced access to finance and debt sustainability solutions. He also shed light on initiatives such as the SIDS Debt Sustainability Support Service and stressed the importance of economic diversification for long-term resilience of small states.
The Commonwealth Ministerial Meeting on Small States is a key gathering held on the sidelines of the CHOGM, bringing together foreign ministers from across the Commonwealth to engage and foster partnerships to promote resilience and sustainable development of small states. This year’s Commonwealth Ministerial Meeting of Small States is co-chaired by Samoa as the host country and Eswatini.