Hugo Yon nominated as US ambassador to Maldives

Hugo Yue-Ho Yon has been nominated to serve as the first US ambassador designated solely to Maldives.

US president Joe Biden’s nomination of Yon as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Maldives was announced in a statement by the White House on Wednesday.

US previously had one ambassador for Sri Lanka and Maldives, who is based in the US embassy in Colombo.

Yon currently serves as senior adviser in the office of the undersecretary of economic growth, energy and the environment in the US State Department.

He will need approval from the Senate for his appointment.

Maldives and US have been engaged in discussions regarding opening designated embassies in the two countries, a move expected to cement bilateral relations established 60 years ago.