Brent Christensen has been sworn in as the new United States ambassador to Bangladesh, pledging to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries. The oath-taking ceremony took place at the US Department of State in Washington on Friday, January 9, local time, according to a statement from the US Embassy in Dhaka. Christensen expressed his excitement to return to Bangladesh, a country he said he knows well, and to lead a strong team of American and local staff at the embassy.

The US Senate confirmed Christensen’s nomination in December, making him the 18th US ambassador to Bangladesh. He succeeds Peter Haas in the position and is scheduled to arrive in Dhaka on January 12. In a previous Senate hearing, Christensen stated that he would highlight potential risks of leaning toward China in defense and other sectors during his tenure. A senior Foreign Service officer, he previously served as political and economic counselor at the US Embassy in Dhaka from 2019 to 2021.

Christensen also expressed gratitude to President Donald Trump for nominating him and reaffirmed his commitment to advancing the president’s goals while strengthening US security and prosperity.