Brent Christensen confirmed to be next US envoy to Bangladesh
He has also served as a Special Assistant to the Special Representative for North Korea Policy
The United States Senate has officially confirmed veteran diplomat Brent Christensen as the next US Ambassador to Bangladesh, filling a critical diplomatic vacancy that has persisted for over a year.
Following his confirmation, Christensen expressed his gratitude on his verified LinkedIn page, stating, "I am honored to be confirmed by the United States Senate and deeply grateful to President Trump for the opportunity to serve as the next United States Ambassador to Bangladesh."
A career member of the Senior Foreign Service, Christensen brings significant experience in South Asian affairs to the role. He is already a familiar face in Dhaka's diplomatic circles, having served as the counselor for Political and Economic Affairs at the US Embassy in Bangladesh from 2019 to 2021. Earlier in his career, he also held the position of Bangladesh Country Officer at the State Department.
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The US mission in Dhaka has been operating without a full-time ambassador since Peter Haas concluded his eventful tenure in the summer of 2024. In the interim, the embassy has been led by a series of Charges d'Affaires (CDA), with Tracey Ann Jacobson serving as the mission chief since January.
The nomination of Christensen was first announced by the White House on 2 September 2025, as part of a broader reshuffling of key diplomatic posts. Other notable appointments in the same cohort included State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce as the US Ambassador to the United Nations and Sergey Gor as the envoy to India.
A seasoned diplomat
Beyond his past roles in Bangladesh, Christensen's resume includes high-level assignments such as the deputy director of the Office of Regional Security and Arms Transfers and a Pearson Fellow with the House Foreign Affairs Committee's Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific.
His extensive international experience spans several continents, with previous postings as an economic counselor in Manila and San Salvador, an economic officer in Riyadh, and a vice-consul in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. He has also served as a Special Assistant to the Special Representative for North Korea Policy.
His arrival in Dhaka is expected to provide renewed stability to the bilateral relationship between the United States and Bangladesh as the nation prepares for its upcoming national election in February 2026.
