Vice President Hussain Mohamed Latheef has departed for New York to represent the Maldives during the High-Level Week of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 81).
The Vice President left Malé on Friday evening and is scheduled to take part in a series of high-level meetings, bilateral engagements and multilateral discussions during the visit, according to the President’s Office.
He will also attend the opening of the General Debate, which begins at the United Nations Headquarters on September 22 and brings together heads of state, heads of government and other senior representatives from UN member states.
Latheef is expected to deliver statements during high-level meetings as part of the Maldives’ participation in the annual gathering.
This year’s General Debate is being held under the theme “Restoring trust, managing transformation: A United Nations that delivers for all.” The debate will run from September 22 to 26 before concluding on September 28.
A series of major international meetings will take place alongside the General Debate, covering issues ranging from climate action and sustainable development to global health and sea-level rise.
Among them is a High-Level Meeting on the existential threats posed by sea-level rise on September 24, an issue of particular significance to low-lying island nations such as the Maldives.
The meeting is intended to bring governments and other stakeholders together to identify practical responses to rising seas, strengthen international cooperation and mobilise support for vulnerable countries, including Small Island Developing States.
Other events scheduled during the week include a high-level meeting marking the 40th anniversary of the Declaration on the Right to Development on September 23 and a meeting on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response on September 25.
The Vice President is also expected to hold bilateral meetings with representatives of other countries and participate in events held on the sidelines of the assembly.
The Maldives has traditionally used the annual UN gathering to advocate on issues affecting small island states, particularly climate change, sustainable development, access to international financing and reform of the multilateral system.
The country has also maintained a prominent position internationally on the issue of Palestine, repeatedly calling for Palestinian self-determination and an independent Palestinian state.
The Maldives marked 60 years as a member of the United Nations last year. It joined the organisation on September 21, 1965, shortly after gaining independence.
President Dr Mohamed Muizzu said during the anniversary that the country’s six decades of UN membership demonstrated how small states could contribute to international discussions on peace, justice and sustainability. He also reiterated calls for reforms to make the multilateral system more representative and responsive to global crises.
The Maldives has since secured its first-ever seat on the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), winning election in June for the 2027-2029 term. The government has said it intends to use the position to advocate for Small Island Developing States and developing countries, particularly on climate resilience and sustainable development.
President Muizzu has previously represented the Maldives at the General Assembly. During his address to UNGA 79 in 2024, he outlined the government’s ambition to transform the Maldives into a developed country by 2040 and called for reforms to international institutions to give smaller countries a stronger voice in global decision-making.
That visit also saw Muizzu become the first Maldivian President to address the United Nations Security Council since the country joined the UN.
This year, the Maldives’ high-level representation in New York will instead be led by Vice President Latheef.
The Vice President is scheduled to conclude his official visit and return to Malé on September 26.
