The United States has provided assistance to the Maldives since 2001.  Initiatives have ranged from assisting the island nation to utilize the potential of wind power to meet its energy needs to capacity building and institutional strengthening of government bodies.

Following the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004, the United States allocated $12 million for relief and reconstruction assistance for the Maldives.  While immediate relief activities were concluded within the six months following the tsunami, longer term reconstruction included upgrading of damaged water supply systems on two islands namely Naifaru (with a population of 4,500) and Hinnavaru (with a population of 4,350), construction of a harbor and breakwater, upgrading of sewage systems, repairing of power systems, and assistance to the Ministry of Finance to improve its public accounting systems.