Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid has said as a strong supporter of multilateralism, Maldives believe in the collective commitment of Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) to maintain a just and equitable international order to collaborate more closely on international peace and security and to cooperate more closely in resolving international disputes peacefully. Foreign Minister Shahid made the statement at the High Level Ministerial Meeting of NAM held in the side-lines of the ongoing 74th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.
Minister Shahid also mentioned the importance of maintaining unity within NAM, and to uphold the fundamental values of the movement, and at the same time, to ensure those values and commitments are implemented within the members of NAM.
Maldives joined NAM at the height of the Cold War in 1976. NAM was established in 1961 as a forum that is not formally aligned or against any major power blocs, while advocating for national independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity.