The United States Senate has given its final approval to the nomination of Brent Christensen as the 18th US Ambassador to Bangladesh, clearing the way for him to assume office in Dhaka.

Christensen confirmed the development himself in a post on LinkedIn on Friday. “I am honoured to receive the approval of the US Senate to serve as the next Ambassador to Bangladesh. I am deeply grateful to President Trump for this opportunity,” he wrote.

US President Donald Trump nominated Christensen for the post on September 2. Under US law, ambassadorial nominations require Senate confirmation. Following a hearing held on October 23, the Senate approved his appointment, making it official.

According to the US State Department website, Christensen is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service (SFS) and holds the rank of “Counselor,” one of the top four tiers in the US Foreign Service. Officers of this rank are considered highly experienced and are entrusted with key policy-making, administrative leadership and managerial authority, both at home and abroad.

Christensen brings more than two decades of experience working on Bangladesh-focused US policy across various government agencies. He is currently serving as Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security at the US Department of State.

The US Congress website notes that the Virginia-based senior Foreign Service officer has been nominated as the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States to Bangladesh. The title signifies that he is fully empowered to represent the US government and exercise authority on behalf of the US President.

Christensen previously served in Dhaka as Political and Economic Counselor at the US Embassy from 2019 to 2021, during Donald Trump’s presidency. Analysts say his return to Bangladesh reflects the confidence and closeness he enjoys with the US President.

During his Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing, Christensen said the United States has long supported Bangladesh’s journey toward a brighter and more democratic future. If confirmed, he pledged to lead the US Embassy in Dhaka in strengthening ties with both the current interim government and any future elected government of Bangladesh.