Trump picks an experienced hand for US ambassador to Azerbaijan

The White House announced Tuesday evening that President Donald Trump has chosen a career diplomat, Earle D. Litzenberger, to be the U.S. ambassador to Azerbaijan, a move that, according to some observers, would ensure an experienced hand in a country that Washington is playing closer attention too, TURAN's U.S. correspondent reports.

If confirmed, Litzenberger, who until last year served as the acting permanent representative of the US to NATO, would be arriving in Baku as the country has reportedly begun to debate joining the Collective Security Treaty Organization, a Russian-led military alliance of former Soviet satellites that also includes Armenia, Belarus, and Tajikistan.

Mr. Litzenberger, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, class of Minister-Counselor, currently serves as Senior Advisor in the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs at the Department of State.

During his career in the Foreign Service, Mr. Litzenberger also served as Senior Fellow at the German Marshall Fund; NATO Deputy Senior Civilian Representative to Afghanistan; Deputy Chief of Mission at the United States Embassy in Belgrade, Serbia; and Deputy Chief of Mission at the United States Embassy in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. Mr. Litzenberger earned a B.A. from Middlebury College and M.S. from the United States Army War College.

He is the recipient of the Matilda W. Sinclaire Language Award. He also speaks French, Russian, Serbian, and Bulgarian.

Alex Raufoglu

Washington D.C.