The key facts
- Jeffrey Colyer, 66, former Kansas governor and surgeon, nominated as US ambassador to the UAE
- The post has been vacant since August 2025; Senate confirmation is required
- The US also lacks confirmed ambassadors in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait and Iraq
A new nominee for a vacant post
US President Donald Trump has nominated former Kansas Governor Jeffrey Colyer, a Republican, as US Ambassador to the UAE. The White House sent the nomination to the Senate on Monday evening; taking office requires confirmation by the upper chamber of Congress. This was reported by The National.
Six months without an ambassador and a shortage of diplomats in the region
The UAE has been without a US ambassador since August 2025, when Martina Strong — a career diplomat appointed under Joe Biden — left the country. According to the outlet, the Trump administration has been slow to select ambassadors for key posts: the US also has no confirmed ambassadors in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait and Iraq. The shortage of confirmed diplomats in the Middle East coincides with the aftermath of the war with Iran, in which Trump prefers to rely on special envoys and Vice President JD Vance; Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner play a significant role in negotiations over Iran, Israel and Gaza.
Who is Colyer and the context of the nomination
Colyer is 66 years old, a surgeon with experience in politics and international humanitarian work. Kansas Senator Jerry Moran backed the nomination, writing that the nominee has «a proven record of public service, principled leadership and unwavering commitment to improving the lives of Kansans and the American people». The outlet also links the nomination to Trump's party's recent defeat in the midterm elections, after which the Republicans lost their majority in Congress — a circumstance that could complicate Senate confirmation of the nomination.
