President Solih Fails To Meet One-On-One With Any World Leader At COP26 Summit

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih had failed to secure a one-on-one audience with any world leader at the COP26 summit held in Glasgow in the United Kingdom.

A government official who had spoken to The Maldives Journal said that the government had worked to make appointments with world leaders for one-on-one meetings with the President. The government had, for example, officially reached out to British PM Boris Johnson. The government's requests had not been honoured.

The Maldives Journal reached out to Presidential spokesperson, Mabrouq Azeez, for confirmation via WhatsApp. Mabrouq responded with a photograph of President Solih speaking at an event at the COP26 summit. Spokesperson Mabrouq said that President Solih was among the three people who spoke at the event, in addition to the Prince of Wales and Prime Minister Boris Johnson. The Maldives Journal responded that such an address cannot be described as a one-on-one meeting with any world leader. Spokesperson Mabrouq responded that an answer would be forthcoming on Saturday.

Spokesperson Mabrouq said that this was the first time a Maldivian president attended the COP26 summit, and the President's statements had received international press coverage.

Although the President's Office and pro-government social media accounts have been circulating a photograph of President Solih with the United Nations Secretary General and Prime Minister Boris Johnson, it must be noted that both the UNSG and the British PM had; as per common practice; been photographed with all delegates to the summit.

Despite President Solih's speech at the summit, his statements did not receive major coverage in the international media. Many are asking if anything that would benefit the Maldives was achieved by the President's costly visit to Scotland.

After his visit to the COP26 summit, President Solih visited the World Travel Market Fair in London. Prior to this, he had attended the Dubai Expo in the United Arab Emirates.

President Solih spent the last 7 weeks travelling.