President Donald Trump has picked career diplomat Natalie Baker to be the new US ambassador to Pakistan. The White House shared the news on November 9, and her name has now gone to the Senate.
The White House described her as a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, with the rank of Minister-Counsellor. She is from the state of Texas.
Baker cannot take up the post yet. The Senate must first review her nomination and vote to confirm her.
If she is confirmed, Pakistan will finally get a full-time American envoy again. The post has been without one for nearly two years.
The last person to hold the job was Donald Blome. He left Pakistan in 2025.
Since then, Baker has been leading the US mission in Islamabad as chargé d’affaires. This means she already knows the country, the embassy team and the daily work well.
She first came to Islamabad on August 16, 2024, when she took the role of Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy.
Before Pakistan, she served as Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy in Doha, Qatar.
Her earlier jobs show a long career in the Middle East and North Africa. She once led the Office of North African Affairs at the State Department in Washington.
She also worked as Deputy Chief and chargé d’affaires of the US Mission to Libya. In Dubai, she was Deputy Director of the Iran Regional Presence Office at the US Consulate.
In Kuwait, she served as Economic Counselor at the US Embassy. There, she worked with the Department of Defence to support the withdrawal of US forces from Iraq.
The nomination comes at a busy time for both countries. Washington and Islamabad are still talking about trade, investment, security and regional issues.
As chargé d’affaires, Baker has played an active part in these talks. She has also worked to make ties between the two nations stronger.
A full ambassador usually carries more weight in high-level meetings. It also sends a clear message that the US wants to keep close contact with Pakistan.
For now, all eyes are on the Senate. Once lawmakers review her record and vote, the path will be clear for her to take the post.
Many observers in Islamabad will watch the process closely. A smooth confirmation could help build trust and speed up cooperation between the two sides.
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