Dr Abdulla Khaleel, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, has concluded an official visit to India, where he attended the 10th Raisina Dialogue. Held in New Delhi from 17 to 19 March, the conference served as a hub for global leaders, scholars, and policymakers to address critical international challenges.
Organised by the Observer Research Foundation in collaboration with India's Ministry of External Affairs, the Raisina Dialogue has become a focal point for discussions on geopolitics and geoeconomics. This year's theme, 'Kālachakra – People, Peace, and Planet', highlighted the interdependence of humanity, peace-building, and environmental sustainability, setting the stage for dynamic exchanges among its participants.
As a panellist in the session titled 'Climate Cataclysm: Adaptation Agenda is Gasping', Minister Khaleel brought attention to the urgent threats posed by climate change, particularly for small island states such as the Maldives. He stressed the necessity of rapid financial mobilisation to combat these challenges, declaring, "We must accelerate finance in trillions now."
Beyond the conference halls, Minister Khaleel engaged in high-level diplomatic discussions. In a bilateral meeting with his Indian counterpart, Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Minister Khaleel reviewed ongoing development initiatives in the Maldives that are supported by Indian assistance. The talks also explored new avenues for collaboration, reaffirming the strength of the Maldives-India partnership and their shared commitment to regional progress.
Expanding his diplomatic outreach, Minister Khaleel also held talks with senior officials from other nations and organisations. Among those he met was Ricky Gill, Special Assistant to the U.S. President and Senior Director for South and Central Asian Affairs. Their dialogue focused on enhancing Maldives-U.S. relations, reflecting a broader effort to strengthen bilateral ties.
The 2025 Raisina Dialogue also welcomed New Zealand's Prime Minister Christopher Luxon as its keynote speaker. The conference stands as a premier annual forum for exploring geopolitics, geoeconomics, and global policy, uniting leaders, policymakers, business executives, scholars, and experts from across the globe.