NordenBladet – The United States’ incoming Ambassador to Estonia, George P. Kent, has arrived in Tallinn and is preparing to take up his official duties. The U.S. Embassy in Tallinn made the announcement on Monday (30.01.2023). The new ambassador will officially start serving after presenting his credentials to Estonian President Alar Karis. Until that time, Charge d’Affaires Gabrielle Cowan will continue to serve as the top-ranking diplomat for the US in Estonia.
Two weeks ago, Kent was sworn in as ambassador designate during a ceremony led by US Under Secretary for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland and attended by Estonian Ambassador to the US Kristjan Prikk in Washington. Kent is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service with the rank of minister-counselor and has previously served as deputy assistant secretary in the European and Eurasian Bureau at the U.S. Department of State. He has also served as deputy chief of mission in Ukraine and senior anti-corruption coordinator in the State Department’s European Bureau.
Throughout his career, Kent has held various positions, including director for Europe and Asia in the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL). He has also served in US diplomatic missions in Tashkent, Warsaw, Bangkok, and Kyiv. Kent holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Russian History and Literature from Harvard and Master of Arts and Master of Science degrees from the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) and the Eisenhower School of the National Defense University, respectively. He speaks English, Ukrainian, Russian, and Thai and is a J. Kirby Simon Fund trustee.
Featured image: Ambassador Designate George P. Kent. January 30, 2023. Source: U.S. Embassy Tallinn/Flickr