The Maldives embassy in Washington officially reopened marking a return to a full-time diplomatic presence in the US after 14 years.
Foreign minister Abdulla Shahid opened the embassy, the foreign ministry said in a press release.
Chief Justice Ahmed Muthasim Adnan, US Assistant Secretary of State Donald Lu and other senior officials from the White House, State Department and USAID attended the ceremony.
The foreign ministry stated that the resident Maldivian community in Washington also attended the embassy opening.
"The Embassy of the Maldives to the United States will serve as a vital bridge between the two countries in cultivating economic growth, cultural and people-to-people ties that will mutually benefit both nations," the press release read.
Maldives and the US decided to open embassies in 2020 during a visit to Male’ by former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
Maldives and the US established diplomatic ties in 1966. The Maldives is opening its embassy in the US for the second time.
The first embassy opened in 2007 but was closed a year later due to financial difficulties.
