Pompeo The First US Secretary To Visit Maldives In 16 Years

Top American diplomat Mike Pompeo is the first Secretary of State to visit the Maldives in 16 years, a development reflective of the Trump Administration's strong desire to strengthen its ties with island nations in the Indo-Pacific region to thwart the increasing Chinese influence. Pompeo, 56, is scheduled to visit the Maldives next week during his four-nation Asia trips. Starting with India, where he would attend the 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue, he would travel to Sri Lanka before landing in Male, with Jakarta being his last stop.

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