Maldives pres calls for Gaza ceasefire in US diplomat meeting

Maldives president Mohamed Muizzu on Tuesday told a top US diplomat that he hoped that the Israeli aggression in Gaza would reach a permanent ceasefire soon and called for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

The president made the comments at a meeting with the Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs of the US State Department Donald Lu.

During the call at the President's Office in Male, the president and the Assistant Secretary of State discussed further strengthening the warm relations between the Maldives and the United States.

"The Assistant Secretary of State expressed the US interest in expanding areas of cooperation with the Maldives, including trade and economic development, tourism cooperation, and Indian Ocean Security," a statement issued by the President's Office read.

"The [resident expressed his gratitude and emphasised that under his foreign policy, the Maldives welcomes developmental initiatives that benefit the Maldives and diversify the economy."

The president and the US Assistant Secretary of State additionally spoke on international matters of mutual concern.

"The president expressed his hope that the Israeli aggression in Gaza would reach a permanent ceasefire soon, noting the imminent holy month of Ramadan. He further added that peace can only be achieved through a two-state solution, Palestine as an independent State with East Jerusalem as its capital within pre-1967 borders," the statement read.