In a significant diplomatic achievement, the Maldives has been elected as one of the Vice Presidents for the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), set to commence in September 2025 and continue through September 2026.
The election took place at UN Headquarters in New York, where member states selected 21 Vice Presidents for the upcoming session. Representing the Asia-Pacific Group, the Maldives was elected alongside Bangladesh, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and Timor-Leste, securing one of the five seats allocated to the region.
This milestone comes at a symbolic time for the Maldives, as the nation prepares to celebrate 60 years of United Nations membership on September 21, 2025 — a fact that adds further significance to the appointment.
President Dr Mohamed Muizzu welcomed the development, calling it a proud moment for the Maldives. In a message shared on his official X (formerly Twitter) account, the President expressed gratitude to UN member states for their trust and reiterated the Maldives’ commitment to advancing multilateralism. He also said the country looked forward to collaborating with global partners to ensure the success of the General Assembly’s 80th session.
“This election highlights our continued efforts to amplify the voice of small island developing states within the international system,” President Muizzu stated.
As Vice President, the Maldives will help oversee plenary sessions and may assume the duties of the President of the General Assembly when required. The position grants the Maldives a higher profile in UN deliberations and provides its diplomatic corps with valuable experience in multilateral leadership, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Ministry emphasized that the appointment demonstrates how nations of modest size can still exert considerable influence in shaping global discourse. It also confirmed that the election campaign was conducted without any financial burden on the state.
This marks the third international electoral success for the Maldives since the current administration took office, underscoring its growing diplomatic footprint and active engagement in global governance.
The 80th session of the UNGA is expected to address critical global challenges, including climate change, sustainable development, peace and security, and international cooperation — areas where the Maldives has consistently advocated for stronger collective action.
