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Nagma Mallick Appointed India's Ambassador to Marshall Islands from Tokyo

Nagma Mohamed Mallick, India's Ambassador to Japan, has been concurrently accredited as the next Ambassador to the Republic of Marshall Islands. India established diplomatic relations with the Marshall Islands in 1995, and the two nations share cooperation in areas like the blue economy, climate change, and renewable energy. While the Marshall Islands criticized India's 1998 nuclear tests and later filed an international lawsuit against nuclear-armed states, this issue has not been raised bilaterally. The Indian Ambassador to Japan has traditionally been accredited to the Marshall Islands, with relations managed from Tokyo.

Key Points: India Appoints Nagma Mallick as Ambassador to Marshall Islands

  • Concurrent accreditation from Tokyo
  • Focus on blue economy & climate change
  • Historical diplomatic ties since 1995
  • Past nuclear test criticisms
  • Bilateral relations managed from Japan
2 min read

Nagma Mohamed Mallick appointed as new ambassador to Marshall Islands

IFS officer Nagma Mohamed Mallick, Ambassador to Japan, concurrently accredited as India's Ambassador to the Republic of Marshall Islands.

"India was one of the first countries to establish diplomatic relations with the Republic of Marshall Islands in April 1995."

New Delhi, February 2

Nagma Mohamed Mallick, from the IFS batch of 1991, presently Ambassador of India to Japan, has been concurrently accredited as the next Ambassador of India to the Republic of Marshall Islands, with residence in Tokyo.

She is expected to take up the assignment shortly.

India was one of the first countries to establish diplomatic relations with the Republic of Marshall Islands (RMI) in April 1995.

India and RMI share warm bilateral relations encompassing a wide range of areas including blue economy, climate change, disaster preparedness, health, education, and renewable energy.

RMI had criticized India's nuclear tests in 1998, but this was largely driven by their own unpleasant memory of Bikini Atoll where the US conducted 67 nuclear tests in 1950s (even today, inhabitants of Bikini Atoll suffer from various kinds of cancers and the soil is so heavily polluted that no form of agriculture is possible).

In April 2014, RMI brought a lawsuit in the international Court of Justice against the nine nuclear-armed countries, including India.

However, there has not been any attempt to raise this issue at bilateral level with India. India's relations with the RMI are covered from Japan with the Indian Ambassador to Japan being concurrently accredited to the RMI.

Hororary Consul General of India in RMI Ramona Levy Strauss was appointed on May 11, 2021.

Former President of RMI Kesai Note visited India over a decade ago, as a member of an inter-parliamentary delegation (in his then capacity as the Speaker of the Parliament). RMI's Minister for Public Works Hiroshi Yamamura, accompanied by Jemi Nashion, CEO, Tobolar Copra Processing Authority of RMI, visited Kochi from 3-5 February 2015 for the Asia Pacific Coconut Community Session/Ministerial Meeting.

Former RMI Ambassador Tom D Kijiner (residence in Tokyo) presented his credentials to President Shri Pranab Mukherjee in New Delhi on March 18, 2015.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Interesting read. The part about the 1998 nuclear tests and RMI's lawsuit is a bit awkward, but it's good to see the article provides context with the Bikini Atoll history. It shows their stance wasn't really about India per se. Glad our bilateral relations have remained warm despite that.
A
Aman W
Focus on blue economy, climate change, and renewable energy is perfect. These small island nations are on the frontline of climate impacts. India can be a true partner in sustainable development here. Smart diplomacy.
S
Sarah B
While I appreciate the appointment, I do wonder if having the ambassador reside in Tokyo, so far away, limits deeper engagement. Would a dedicated diplomatic presence, even if smaller, be more effective for such a crucial region facing climate threats?
K
Karthik V
Good to see India's consistent engagement with Pacific island nations. The visit details of their ministers to Kochi for the coconut meeting show practical cooperation is happening. Hope we can expand people-to-people ties and maybe even tourism.

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