Israel International Relations: Israel - Maldives Relations

No known or documented Jewish community or significant Jewish history exists in the Maldives. Israel and the Maldives have had a complex and intermittent diplomatic relationship shaped by broader regional dynamics, domestic politics, and global developments. Though the two nations briefly established diplomatic ties in the 1960s, the relationship has fluctuated over the decades, with gestures of rapprochement followed by cooling periods. As of April 2025, Israel and the Maldives do not maintain diplomatic relations, and Israelis are barred from visiting the country.

Early Diplomatic Recognition (1965-1974)
Efforts Toward Rapprochement (2009–2014)
Renewed Tensions and Suspension of Agreements (2014)
Tourism
Potential Normalization Amid the Abraham Accords
Consequences of the Gaza War
UN Voting Record Against Israel

Early Diplomatic Recognition (1965-1974)

The Maldives gained independence from the United Kingdom on July 26, 1965. Shortly afterward, on October 29, 1965, Israel officially became the third country to recognize the Maldives as independent. Diplomatic relations were formally established, and the Israeli ambassador was the first to present his credentials to the Maldives’s president. However, the ties were short-lived. In 1974, the Maldives severed diplomatic relations with Israel amid growing solidarity with Arab and Muslim countries for the Palestinians.

Efforts Toward Rapprochement (2009–2014)

Under the administration of President Mohamed Nasheed (2008–2012), the Maldives took steps to re-engage with Israel. In 2009, the two countries signed several cooperation agreements in health, tourism, education, and culture. Israeli medical teams visited the Maldives to provide humanitarian aid and medical training.

The following year, the Maldives’s then-foreign minister, Ahmed Naseem, became the first senior official to visit Israel. During his four-day visit, he met with then-president Shimon Peres and Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, laid a wreath at Yad Vashem, and toured the country.

Despite these developments, full diplomatic relations were not restored. Nonetheless, the cooperation during this period marked a thaw in bilateral ties and was seen as a pragmatic shift toward engagement, primarily focused on development and humanitarian needs.

Renewed Tensions and Suspension of Agreements (2014)

Following the change in leadership in the Maldives, relations with Israel deteriorated. In July 2014, amid Operation Protective Edge, the Maldivian government under President Abdulla Yameen announced the suspension of cooperation agreements with Israel in response to public protests and expressions of solidarity with the Palestinian cause.

The government also announced plans to ban Israeli citizens from entering the country, though this ban was never formally enacted. The decision was largely symbolic and driven by domestic political pressures and religious sentiment.

Tourism

Despite the lack of formal diplomatic ties, the Maldives lifted a ban on Israeli tourists in the 1990s. It has remained a popular destination for Israeli tourists, with nearly 11,000 Israelis traveling in 2024. Tourism remained one of the few areas of informal connection between the two nations.

Reports of Potential Normalization Amid the Abraham Accords

The Abraham Accords in 2020, which normalized relations between Israel and several Muslim-majority nations, prompted speculation about possible warming ties between Israel and other Muslim countries, including the Maldives.

Between late 2020 and early 2022, media reports suggested that informal talks had taken place between Israeli and Maldivian officials about the potential for re-establishing diplomatic ties. However, the Maldivian government denied the reports and reiterated its support for the Palestinian cause as a prerequisite for formal engagement.

Consequences of the Gaza War

In December 2023, Israel issued a travel warning advising its citizens against visiting the Maldives due to a rise in anti-Israel sentiment amid the ongoing conflict with Hamas. The warning highlighted the “heightened anti-Israel atmosphere,” which included public statements from officials.

In 2024, the Maldives government announced a cabinet decision to change laws to prevent Israeli passport holders from entering the country. They also established a subcommittee to oversee the implementation of this plan. However, in June, the government suddenly paused the initiative following pressure from the Biden Administration, American lawmakers, and the media. The Maldives stated that it feared Israeli Muslims would also be affected by the ban, hence the decision to pull back, revealing an intention only to ban Jews.

Despite this, in April 2025, the Maldives government formally enacted a blanket ban on all Israeli citizens from entering the country. This decision was made in response to what they described as the “ongoing acts of genocide” in Gaza and was intended to demonstrate “solidarity” with the Palestinians.

UN Voting Record Against Israel

According to data from UN Watch, the Maldives has consistently voted against Israel on all 167 relevant resolutions at the United Nations since 2015. This includes support for measures that criticize Israeli policies and actions, particularly regarding the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem. Notably, the Maldives supported the International Court of Justice (ICJ) case against Israel, which accuses the country of “genocide,” and formally requested to intervene in the case. The Maldives’s voting pattern demonstrates the country’s strong alignment with pro-Palestinian positions in international forums.

Sources: “Diplomatic Relations,” Republic of Maldives Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“Maldives,” UN Watch.
“Israel and Maldives discussing normalizing relations: Israeli Media,” TMJ, (December 15, 2020).
Lazar Berman, “Israel expects to establish ties with Comoros, Maldives next — sources,” Times of Israel, (January 5, 2022).
“Govt. denies reports Maldives in talks to establish diplomatic ties with Israel,” Sun Online International, (January 5, 2022).
James Waler, “How Maldives gained independence from the British empire,” The National, (July 26, 2023).
“PRESS RELEASE: Blowback Forces Maldives To Drop Israel Passport Ban. American Jewish Congress Is Proud To Have Played A Role.” American Jewish Congress, (June 21, 2024).
“Maldives bans Israelis to show ‘resolute solidarity’ with Palestinians amid Gaza war,” Times of Israel, (April 15, 2025).
Olivia Alhusen, “Maldives imposes complete entry Ban on citizens from major US and UK ally,” Daily Mail, (April 16, 2025).