Martina A. Strong

Martina Anna Tkadlec Strong is an American diplomat who has served as the United States ambassador to the United Arab Emirates since October 4, 2023. She previously served as the de facto United States ambassador to Saudi Arabia from January 20, 2021 until April 16, 2023.

Martina Anna Tkadlec Strong
United States Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates
Assumed office
October 4, 2023
PresidentJoe Biden
Preceded byJohn Rakolta
United States Chargé d’affaires to Saudi Arabia
In office
January 20, 2021 – April 16, 2023
PresidentJoe Biden
Preceded byJohn Abizaid
Succeeded byMichael Ratney
Personal details
EducationSouthern Methodist University (BA)
University of California, Berkeley (MA)

Early life and education

Strong earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Southern Methodist University and a Master of Arts degree from the University of California, Berkeley.[1]

Career

Strong is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, with the rank of Minister-Counselor. She served as the chargé d’affaires ad interim at the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from January 20, 2021 until April 16, 2023. She previously served as the Deputy Chief of Mission and also chargé d’affaires ad interim at the U.S. Embassy in Sofia, Bulgaria,[2] and she also served as the Minister Counselor for Political and Political-Military Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq. Strong served as Counselor for Political-Economic Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Warsaw, Poland, and as a Political Advisor in Basra, Iraq. Strong also was the Deputy Counselor for Political-Economic Affairs at the U.S. Embassies in Prague, Czech Republic and in Bridgetown, Barbados. Domestically, she served as Director for the G-8 on the White House National Security Council in Washington, D.C.[1]

U.S. ambassador to the United Arab Emirates

On September 16, 2022, President Joe Biden nominated Strong to be the next ambassador to the United Arab Emirates.[1] Her nomination expired at the end of the year and was returned to President Biden on January 3, 2023.[3]

President Biden renominated Strong the same day. Hearings on her nomination were held before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on March 15, 2023.[4] The committee favorably reported her nomination to the Senate floor on April 27, 2023. It was confirmed by the full United States Senate on July 27, 2023, via voice vote.[5] Ambassador Strong presented her credentials to President of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on October 4, 2023.[6]

Personal life

Strong speaks Arabic, Czech, Polish, French, German, Russian, and Bosnian.[1]

References
  1. "President Biden Announces Key Nominees". The White House. 16 September 2022. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
  2. "Who is Martina Strong, US' new ambassador nominee to the UAE?". Khaleej Times. September 17, 2022. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
  3. "PN2658 - Nomination of Martina Anna Tkadlec Strong for Department of State, 117th Congress (2021-2022)". www.congress.gov. 19 September 2022. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
  4. "Senate Foreign Relations Committee — Department of State Nominations Hearing (March 15, 2023) — 118th Congress (2023-2024)". foreign.senate.gov. 15 March 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  5. "PN52 — Martina Anna Tkadlec Strong — Department of State 118th Congress (2023-2024)". US Congress. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  6. @USAinUAE (October 4, 2023). "Today, Ambassador Strong presented her credentials as the U.S. Ambassador to the UAE to HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, the President of the UAE. Under Ambassador Strong's leadership, the U.S. Mission to the UAE works in tandem with Emirati partners to forge a more peaceful, sustainable, and prosperous future. #UnitedPartners 🇦🇪🇺🇸 #AmbStrong" (Tweet). Retrieved October 23, 2023 – via Twitter.
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