[ad_1]
WASHINGTON — The Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted on Thursday to confirm President Joe Biden’s nomination for ambassador to the United States. United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Kuwaita Senate aide confirmed to Al-Monitor.
Those nominations will now go to the full U.S. Senate for approval.
The panel voted to approve the nomination of Karen Sasahara as U.S. ambassador to Kuwait. Sasahara most recently served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for North African Affairs and previously served as Chargé d’affaires ad interim at the U.S. Embassy in Jordan.
The senators also endorsed Martina Anna Tkadlec Strong, Biden’s pick for ambassador to the UAE. Strong has served as chargé d’affaires ad interim at the U.S. embassy in Saudi Arabia and has held senior positions at U.S. missions in Bulgaria and Iraq.
Also passing the Senate committee on Thursday was the nomination of Elizabeth Richard, the State Department’s counterterrorism coordinator. Her previous positions include U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs.
During her confirmation hearing in May 2022, Richard said she would focus on reducing the threat posed by ISIS and prioritize the repatriation of foreign terrorist fighters from Syria.
Sasahara, Strong and Richards are part of a long line of ambassador picks whose bids were not confirmed by the previous Congress and were renominated by Biden in January.
Last month, the U.S. Senate confirmed michael latney As the U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia, he filled an ambassadorship that had been vacant for more than two years. His nomination was put on hold by the Oregon Democratic senator. ron wydenhe is seeking more information from the Biden administration on how Riyadh helps its citizens accused of violent crimes flee the United States.
[ad_2]
Source link
