As stated by Spokesperson Matthew Miller:
During a meeting yesterday at the Fourth Conference on Small Island Developing States in Antigua and Barbuda, Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources Richard R. Verma and Foreign Minister Sylvestre Radegonde discussed the shared commitment of the United States and Seychelles to tackling climate change. Deputy Secretary Verma lauded Seychelles' inspiring engagement on climate issues, including President Ramkalawan's leadership of SIDS DOCK, an organization composed of small island developing states finding innovative ways to sustainably power their economies. They also discussed maritime security in the Western Indian Ocean, engagement on shared priorities in the Indian Ocean Rim Association and the Indian Ocean Commission, and the opportunities the newly opened U.S. Embassy in Victoria to deepen the strong ties between the two countries. Deputy Secretary Verma expressed great appreciation for Seychelles' leadership in regional security, to include its willingness to prosecute piracy and its participation in the Combined Maritime Task Force (CMF) and Operation Prosperity Guardian (OPG).
