India’s Chief of Army Staff, General Bipin Rawat is to arrive in Maldives on an official trip on Sunday.

According to the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF), the Indian army chief is to undertake a six-day official visit to the country, and will depart on October 4.

MNDF did not provide any additional information on the matter.

General Rawat took office as the Chief of the Army Staff in December 2016, following the retirement of General Dalbir Singh Suhag. There are reports that Rawat will also retire at the end of 2019.

He was appointed chairman of Chiefs of Staff Committee (COSC) on Friday.

While Maldives and India’s relationship had soured during former President Abdulla Yameen’s five-year rule, it has improved vastly since the new administration took over in November 2018.

As such, Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended incumbent President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s inauguration ceremony. Furthermore, President Solih’s maiden visit abroad since assuming office was to India, while PM Modi’s first trip abroad following his landslide re-election victory in May was to the Maldives.