The Centre for Security and Strategic Studies (CSSS), The Maldives National University (MNU), hosted in collaboration with The Foreign Service Institute of Maldives (FOSIM), the inaugural session of the “Small States Security and Foreign Policy” joint seminar series today at the MNU Central Auditorium.

As part of MNU’s commitment to advancing national and regional security discourse, the seminar brought together high-level policymakers, academics, and students to examine how small states like the Maldives exercise strategic agency in an increasingly complex global landscape. The discussion focused on navigating national interests amidst challenges such as climate change, maritime threats, and shifting regional geopolitics.

Highlights of the Event

The program commenced with opening remarks by Dr. Aishath Shehenaz Adam, Vice Chancellor of MNU, who emphasised MNU’s role as the national university in generating policy relevant knowledge and convening informed dialogue on security and foreign policy issues of strategic importance to the Maldives.

Keynote Address: Dr. Bhagya Senaratne, Director of Education at the Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies (BCIS), Sri Lanka, delivered a compelling keynote. Drawing on regional perspectives and comparative experiences, Dr. Senaratne highlighted the importance of strategic autonomy for small states and the necessity of regional collaboration in the Indian Ocean.

Panel Discussion: Bridging Policy and Academia

The seminar featured a robust panel discussion moderated by the Ismail Azzam Wajeeh from MNU Research Development Office, featuring diverse perspectives from regional and local experts:

• Dr. Bhagya Senaratne (Regional Perspective): Shared insights on the evolving security dynamics in South Asia and the lessons learned from the Sri Lankan experience.
• Ms. Mariyam Midhfa Naeem (Policy Perspective): The Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs detailed her extensive experience in multilateral diplomacy, discussing how the Maldives champions the interests of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) on the global stage.
• Mr. Mohamed Hoodh Ibrahim (Academic Perspective): The Coordinator of Political Science and International Relations at MNU explored the interplay between governance, regional security, and the academic framework required to support informed national strategies.

The panel concluded that small states are increasingly proactive actors in global affairs, emphasizing that strategic partnerships between academia and policy institutions are essential for shaping informed and resilient security and foreign policy responses.

Looking Ahead

This seminar marks the first in a series of dialogues initiated by CSSS, MNU, aimed at strengthening engagement between academia and national policy institutions, including the FOSIM, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Through this seminar series, MNU seeks to institutionalise sustained policy relevant dialogue, contribute to national capacity building, and support the development of a resilient and informed security and foreign policy architecture for the Maldives and the wider region.