In a significant diplomatic appointment, Naghma Mohammad Mallik, a 1991-batch Indian Foreign Service officer, has been named India’s next Ambassador to the Republic of the Marshall Islands. Currently serving as Ambassador to Japan since 2025, Mallik will soon take up her new role in the Pacific island nation, as announced by the Ministry of External Affairs.
The Marshall Islands, a small archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, lies in the Micronesia region, positioned roughly midway between Hawaii and Australia. This strategic location underscores the importance of strengthening bilateral ties in the Indo-Pacific.
Mallik brings a wealth of experience to the post. A graduate in English Literature with a Master’s in Sociology from prestigious institutions like St. Stephen’s College and Delhi School of Economics, she is multilingual, fluent in English, French, Hindi, Urdu, and Malayalam.
Her illustrious career began in Paris, where she served at the Indian Embassy and the Indian Mission to UNESCO. Back in New Delhi, she started as a Desk Officer in the West Europe Division of the Ministry of External Affairs, later joining the Prime Minister’s Office under I.K. Gujral as part of his personal staff.
From 1997-1998, post her PMO stint, Mallik became the first woman Deputy Chief of Protocol (Ceremonial). She then represented India in Nepal as First Secretary and in Sri Lanka as Counsellor. Her roles expanded to Spokesperson in the MEA, Director in the Eurasia Division handling Russia and CIS relations, and Deputy Chief of Mission in Thailand from 2010-2012.
Mallik’s ambassadorial experience includes stints in Tunisia (2012-2015) and as High Commissioner to Brunei Darussalam (2015-2018). She also headed the Policy Planning Division and served as Additional Secretary (Africa), overseeing relations with Eastern and Southern African nations.
Prior to Japan, she was Ambassador to Poland from September 2021 until her latest assignment. Born in New Delhi to parents from Kasaragod, Kerala, Mallik’s journey from Delhi’s academic corridors to global diplomacy exemplifies dedication and versatility.
This appointment signals India’s intent to bolster presence in the Pacific amid evolving geopolitical dynamics, with Mallik well-equipped to navigate these waters.