Islamabad: US President Donald Trump nominated Natalie A. Baker, who currently serves as chargé d’affaires at the US embassy in Islamabad, as the next US ambassador to Pakistan.
The White House announced the nomination on November 9 as part of a list of diplomatic and judicial appointments sent to the US Senate.
Baker, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service holding the rank of Minister Counselor, led the US diplomatic mission in Pakistan since January 2025.
If confirmed, she will be Washington’s first ambassador to Islamabad since Donald Blome left the post in early 2025.
Appointment awaits Senate approval
According to the White House announcement, Baker was nominated to serve as the United States’ Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Pakistan.
Her nomination will be reviewed by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee before proceeding to the full Senate for confirmation.
Until that process is completed, Baker will remain the nominee rather than the formally appointed ambassador.
She was already overseeing the embassy’s diplomatic activities as chargé d’affaires following Blome's departure.
Blome took office in May 2022, following Senate confirmation in March. His appointment ended a nearly four year period during which the United States did not post any permanent ambassador in Islamabad.
Who is Natalia Baker?
In August 2024, Baker joined the US Embassy in Islamabad as deputy chief of mission.
Before arriving in Pakistan, she served as deputy chief of mission at the U.S. Embassy in Doha, Qatar, from August 2021 to July 2024.
Her diplomatic career includes senior assignments in North Africa, Iran, and the Gulf region.
She previously served as director of the Office of North African Affairs within the State Department’s Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, as well as deputy chief of mission and acting chargé d’affaires at the US Mission to Libya.
Baker also worked as deputy director of the Iran Regional Presence Office at the US Consulate in Dubai and as economic counsellor at the American embassy in Kuwait.
During her assignment in Kuwait, she worked with the US Department of Defence on arrangements connected to the withdrawal of American forces from Iraq.
Her previous postings include a consular assignment in Islamabad and diplomatic responsibilities in Turkmenistan.
Baker holds a bachelor’s degree from Princeton University and a master’s degree in public policy from Harvard University. She is also a graduate of the US National War College.
Nomination comes amid continued bilateral engagement
The nomination comes as Pakistan and the United States continue diplomatic engagement on trade, investment, security cooperation and regional developments.
As chargé d’affaires, Baker was already representing Washington in discussions with Pakistani officials on bilateral economic and diplomatic matters.
Her nomination signals the administration's intention to fill the ambassadorial vacancy with a diplomat familiar with Pakistan and the wider region.
However, the White House did not announce when the Senate will complete confirmation.
Baker will formally assume the ambassadorial position only after receiving the required approval and completing the appointment process.
