Trump Picks Natalie Baker as US Ambassador to Pakistan After Nearly Two-Year Vacancy

The White House nominates its top diplomat in Islamabad for a permanent ambassadorial role, putting her experience in Iran, Libya and Qatar under fresh scrutiny.

WASHINGTON/ISLAMABAD, Nov. 10 (Focus Pakistan) — Natalie Baker has run the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad since January 2025, though never as ambassador. President Donald Trump wants to change that. On Monday, he nominated her as the next US ambassador to Pakistan.

The White House included Baker on its Nov. 9 list of nominations sent to the Senate. Senators must confirm her before she can present her credentials in Islamabad.

Donald Blome, the last confirmed ambassador, went home in January 2025. That gap followed an even longer one. Washington went without a Senate-confirmed ambassador in Islamabad from David Hale’s departure in August 2018 until Blome arrived in May 2022. Chargés d’affaires ran the embassy in both stretches.

Baker comes from Texas and is a senior careerdiplomat. She first came to the Islamabad embassy in August 2024 as Blome’s deputy. When he went home five months later, she became chargé d’affaires.

The News reported last month that the State Department had made her chargé d’affaires on a permanent basis and named Catherine Connell as her deputy.

Her career runs through some of Washington’s toughest Middle East postings. She spent three years as deputy chief of mission in Doha, leaving in 2024. Qatar played host to a large share of America’s Afghanistan diplomacy over that time. Libya came earlier: Baker served there as deputy chief and, for a period, as chargé. Her list also includes a stint running the State Department’s North Africa office and the No. 2 job at the Iran Regional Presence Office in Dubai.

Kuwait was another stop. As economic counselor there, she worked with the Defense Department as American troops pulled out of Iraq. Express Tribune reported that she studied at Princeton and Harvard, graduated from the National War College and once worked as a consular officer in Islamabad.

The nomination comes as Washington weighs its next steps on Iran. On the same day, Trump said U.S. military action against Iran was not necessary “at this point.” The White House announcement did not connect Baker’s selection to Iran.

Her résumé includes direct experience handling Washington’s Iran-related diplomacy. Islamabad hosted rounds of talks tied to the U.S.-Iran conflict earlier this year. In April, ahead of a second round, Baker met Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi citing the Interior Ministry. The ministry said she “praised Pakistan’s constructive role.”

Naqvi said at the time he hoped “both sides will give diplomacy and a peaceful solution a chance.”

The two met again in September. Radio Pakistan reported that Baker appreciated Pakistan’s sacrifices in the fight against terrorism, while Naqvi called Pakistan “a strong wall between the world and terrorism.”

Baker has also reached Pakistanis outside official meetings. Basant brought her to Lahore’s Delhi Gate in February. She wore festival colours and flew kites with embassy staff. Daily Pakistan said Marriyum Aurangzeb, Punjab’s senior minister, and provincial information minister Azma Bukhari were there to greet her.

Nominees for ambassador usually go to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee first, and only then to a floor vote. Sometimes that includes a hearing. The Senate has not announced a hearing or confirmation timetable for Baker.

The calendar could still matter. Under Senate Rule XXXI, nominations left pending at the end of a session generally go back to the president, though senators can agree to keep them alive. The 119th Congress ends on Jan. 3, 2027. If the Senate does not act by then, the president can send the nomination again.

Senate confirmation would raise Baker from chargé d’affaires to ambassador. Washington would gain a formally accredited envoy, while the diplomat already leading its mission stays in place.

Until then, the vacancy officially continues.