The United Kingdom and the Maldives held their third Strategic Dialogue at senior officials level in London on 17 September 2026, according to a joint communiqué published by the British High Commission in Malé on 18 September 2026. The talks built on earlier dialogues in 2023 and 2025. Laure Beaufils, Director for South Asia and Afghanistan at the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, and Dr Hala Hameed, Secretary at the Maldives Ministry of Foreign Affairs, co-chaired the meeting, with senior officials from both governments taking part.

Discussions covered defence cooperation, maritime security, counterterrorism and protective security, with the UK reaffirming support for the Maldives' capacity-building through technical assistance, training and practical cooperation. Both sides also exchanged views on governance, criminal justice reform, judicial independence and human rights. On trade, the Maldives welcomed the UK's suspension of tariffs on tuna imports from 20 May 2026 until 31 December 2028, and the two countries discussed expanding cooperation in fisheries, tourism, renewable energy and financial services.

The communiqué said more than 200,000 visitors from the UK travelled to the Maldives in 2025. Both sides discussed climate and marine conservation cooperation, including ahead of COP31, and reaffirmed a shared commitment to continue annual Strategic Dialogues.