Brent Christensen Nominated as Next US Ambassador to Bangladesh

The administration of US President Donald Trump has nominated Brent Christensen, a seasoned career diplomat, as the next United States Ambassador to Bangladesh, according to a White House announcement issued on Tuesday, September 2.

Christensen, a native of Virginia and a Counselor in the Senior Foreign Service, has been named Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the People’s Republic of Bangladesh. His nomination, which requires confirmation by the US Senate, was part of a series of high-profile diplomatic appointments unveiled on the same day. These include Tammy Bruce, the current State Department spokesperson, as nominee for US Ambassador to the United Nations, and Sergey Gor for the ambassadorial post in India.

With extensive experience in South and East Asia, Christensen brings a wealth of expertise to the role. He previously served at the US Embassy in Dhaka as Counselor for Political and Economic Affairs from 2019 to 2021. Earlier in his career, he held the position of Bangladesh Country Officer in the State Department’s now-defunct Office of Pakistan and Bangladesh Affairs.

Christensen’s diplomatic portfolio spans several critical roles. From 2022 to January 2025, he served as Foreign Policy Advisor to the Commander of the United States Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM), advising on the foreign policy implications of global strategic deterrence. Between 2016 and 2019, he was Deputy Director of the Office of Regional Security and Arms Transfers in the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs. He also served as a Pearson Fellow with the House Foreign Affairs Committee’s Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific from 2015 to 2016.

His international assignments include Special Assistant to the Special Representative for North Korea Policy, Cyber Coordinator in the Bureau of East Asia and Pacific Affairs, and economic and political roles at US missions in Manila, San Salvador, Riyadh, and Ho Chi Minh City. A Distinguished Graduate of the National War College, Christensen holds a Master of Science in National Security Strategy, earned in 2022.

The US Embassy in Dhaka has been without a permanent ambassador since Peter Haas concluded his tenure in mid-2024. The post has since been managed by Chargés d’Affaires, with Lisa Jacobson currently serving as the mission’s top diplomat since January 2025.

Christensen’s nomination signals a continuation of strong diplomatic ties between the US and Bangladesh, with his prior experience in Dhaka expected to enhance bilateral engagement. The Senate’s confirmation process will determine the timeline for his potential assumption of duties.