06-08-2025
US Embassy in Baghdad remains without confirmed ambassador
Baghdad ( – The United States has yet to appoint a new ambassador to Iraq, leaving the embassy in Baghdad under the temporary leadership of Steven Fagin, who assumed duties as Chargé d'Affaires interim in late May.
The position has been vacant since the departure of Alina Romanowski earlier this year.
While diplomatic work continues, the absence of a Senate-confirmed ambassador highlights delays in Washington's nomination and approval process. So far, the White House has not announced a successor.
Fagin, a seasoned diplomat and former ambassador to Yemen, is currently overseeing the embassy's operations and engagement with Iraqi officials. A member of the U.S. Senior Foreign Service, he has held previous assignments in Iraq, including Deputy Chief of Mission in Baghdad (2020–2021) and Consul General in Erbil (2018–2020).
The vacancy reflects a broader trend of prolonged appointments across key U.S. missions, especially in complex diplomatic posts like Iraq.
There is no timeline yet for a formal nomination.
