Biden names ambassadors to sensitive posts in Israel, Mexico

Reuters | Washington

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

President Joe Biden on Tuesday used his first major batch of foreign ambassador nominations to signal a desire to strengthen US relationships to deal with challenges in the Middle East, Central America and Russia.

Biden tapped Morgan Stanley vice-chairman Thomas Nides, a onetime aide to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, as ambassador to Israel, as the close US ally welcomes a new prime minister.

Nides’ nomination comes just two days after Israel’s parliament seated a new governing coalition led by nationalist Naftali Bennett, ending Benjamin Netanyahu’s 12-year run as prime minister.

As ambassador to Mexico, Biden picked Ken Salazar, a Spanish-speaking, Latino lawyer and former US senator from Colorado and Interior secretary.

Mexico is a top US trading partner, and the new ambassador will also work to limit immigration from Central America. Biden chose security expert Julianne Smith to represent Washington on the Council of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), a Western bulwark against Russia.

The White House announced nine total ambassador nominations after Biden wrapped up meetings in Europe with the Group of Seven countries and NATO, all traditional US allies, and prepared for Wednesday’s meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, a meeting that could be tense.

Nominees do not become ambassadors until they are confirmed by the US Senate. Biden has yet to announce most of his picks, from Russia and China to most countries represented at the meetings in Europe.