Vice President Latheef Advocates for SIDS Sovereignty and Climate Resilience at UNGA

Vice President Hussain Mohamed Latheef has concluded an official visit to New York, where he represented the Maldives during the High-Level Week of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). The visit focused on advancing the Maldives’ strategic priorities, specifically regarding climate resilience, equitable global governance, and the sovereign rights of Small Island Developing States (SIDS). During the General Debate, Vice President Latheef delivered the national statement, asserting that every state possesses the fundamental right to determine its own future. He linked the Maldives' current development goals to President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s overarching vision of achieving developed-country status by 2040, while addressing the evolving security challenges that disproportionately affect small nations. On the global stage, the Vice President called for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. He further advocated for comprehensive reforms within the United Nations, proposing the introduction of a rotating Security Council seat specifically for SIDS to ensure fairer representation. Climate change remained a central pillar of the visit. Speaking at the High-Level Plenary Meeting on Sea-Level Rise, the Vice President declared that the Maldives' strategy is one of resilience rather than retreat. He urged the international community to increase grant-based adaptation finance and emphasized that rising sea levels must not compromise legally recognized maritime baselines or the statehood of the Maldives under international law. Beyond the general assembly, the Vice President held high-level bilateral discussions with UN Secretary-General António Guterres and Bangladeshi Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. He also addressed the China-hosted High-Level Meeting on the Global Development Initiative, further strengthening the Maldives' diplomatic ties and development partnerships. These engagements underscore the Maldives' commitment to leveraging international forums to protect its territorial integrity and secure the financial resources necessary to combat the existential threat of climate change.