ISLAMABAD: US President Donald Trump has nominated career diplomat Natalie A. Baker, who currently serves as Washington’s Chargé d’Affaires in Pakistan, to become the next American ambassador to Islamabad.
The White House announced the nomination on November 9, submitting Baker’s name to the US Senate for consideration. She will need Senate confirmation before formally taking up the ambassadorial post.
Baker is a career member of the US Senior Foreign Service with the rank of minister-counselor. She has been leading the US diplomatic mission in Pakistan since January 2025, when she assumed the role of Chargé d’Affaires ad interim following the departure of former ambassador Donald Blome.
Her nomination would move her from the mission’s top diplomatic role in the absence of an ambassador to the formally appointed position, potentially providing continuity in Washington’s engagement with Islamabad.
Extensive diplomatic experience
Baker arrived in Pakistan in August 2024 as deputy chief of mission at the US Embassy in Islamabad. Before that, she served as deputy chief of mission at the US Embassy in Doha, Qatar, from 2021 to 2024.
Her diplomatic career also includes assignments across the Middle East and North Africa. She previously headed the State Department’s Office of North African Affairs and served as deputy chief of mission and acting Chargé d’Affaires at the US Mission to Libya.
In addition, Baker worked as deputy director of the Iran Regional Presence Office at the US Consulate in Dubai and as economic counselor at the US Embassy in Kuwait. During her posting in Kuwait, she coordinated with the US Department of Defense on the withdrawal of American forces from Iraq.
From 2009 to 2011, she served as political and economic counselor in Libya, during a period when Washington was rebuilding diplomatic relations with the country. Her assignment ended after the Libyan uprising forced the evacuation of the US Embassy.
Her earlier postings included a consular assignment in Islamabad, a cultural affairs role in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, and work in the State Department’s Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs.
Focus on Pakistan-US relations
Since taking charge of the US diplomatic mission in Islamabad, Baker has been involved in discussions with Pakistani officials on trade, investment and economic cooperation.
Her engagement has included meetings with government representatives and business stakeholders on expanding commercial ties and improving market access. Areas of discussion have included agriculture, minerals, technology and food processing.
The nomination comes as Pakistan and the United States continue diplomatic engagement on economic cooperation, trade, investment and regional issues.
Baker holds a bachelor’s degree from Princeton University and a master’s degree in public policy from Harvard University. She is also a 2017 distinguished graduate of the National War College at the US National Defense University.
Her nomination now moves to the Senate confirmation process. Until the process is completed, Baker will continue serving as Chargé d’Affaires in Pakistan.
If confirmed, she would become the next formally appointed US ambassador to Pakistan, bringing experience in Islamabad and several strategically important diplomatic postings to the role.
