United States Ambassador to Bahrain
Encyclopedia
The United States Ambassador to Bahrain is the official representative of the President of the United States to the head of state
of Bahrain
.
Until 1971, Bahrain had been part of a British protectorate along with the other sheikhdom
s in the Persian Gulf
. In 1971 the protectorate ended and seven of the other sheikhdoms joined in a federation
to become the United Arab Emirates
. Bahrain, however, did not join the federation, but declared its independence on August 15, 1971. The United States recognized
the State of Bahrain on on the same day and moved to establish diplomatic relations. The U.S. embassy in Manama
was opened on September 21, 1971, with John N. Gatch, Jr. as Chargé d'Affaires
ad interim
. Ambassador William A. Stoltzfus, Jr. presented his credentials
to the government of Bahrain on February 17, 1972. Stoltzfus was concurrently the ambassador to Kuwait
, Qatar
, Oman
, and the United Arab Emirates
, while resident in Kuwait. The first ambassador commissioned solely to Bahrain was Joseph W. Twinam in 1974.
, a career foreign service officer
of the State Department
, was nominated by President Obama on June 30, 2011, to be the next U.S. Ambassador to Bahrain.
Head of State
A head of state is the individual that serves as the chief public representative of a monarchy, republic, federation, commonwealth or other kind of state. His or her role generally includes legitimizing the state and exercising the political powers, functions, and duties granted to the head of...
of Bahrain
Bahrain
' , officially the Kingdom of Bahrain , is a small island state near the western shores of the Persian Gulf. It is ruled by the Al Khalifa royal family. The population in 2010 stood at 1,214,705, including 235,108 non-nationals. Formerly an emirate, Bahrain was declared a kingdom in 2002.Bahrain is...
.
Until 1971, Bahrain had been part of a British protectorate along with the other sheikhdom
Sheikhdom
A sheikhdom is a geographical area or a society , that is ruled by a sheikh . Sheikhdoms exist almost exclusively within Arab countries, particularly in the Arabian Peninsula....
s in the Persian Gulf
Persian Gulf
The Persian Gulf, in Southwest Asia, is an extension of the Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.The Persian Gulf was the focus of the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq War, in which each side attacked the other's oil tankers...
. In 1971 the protectorate ended and seven of the other sheikhdoms joined in a federation
Federation
A federation , also known as a federal state, is a type of sovereign state characterized by a union of partially self-governing states or regions united by a central government...
to become the United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates, abbreviated as the UAE, or shortened to "the Emirates", is a state situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman, and Saudi Arabia, and sharing sea borders with Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iran.The UAE is a...
. Bahrain, however, did not join the federation, but declared its independence on August 15, 1971. The United States recognized
Diplomatic recognition
Diplomatic recognition in international law is a unilateral political act with domestic and international legal consequences, whereby a state acknowledges an act or status of another state or government in control of a state...
the State of Bahrain on on the same day and moved to establish diplomatic relations. The U.S. embassy in Manama
Manama
Manama is the capital and largest city of Bahrain, with an approximate population of 155,000 people.Long an important trading center in the Persian Gulf, Manama is home to a very diverse population...
was opened on September 21, 1971, with John N. Gatch, Jr. as Chargé d'Affaires
Chargé d'affaires
In diplomacy, chargé d’affaires , often shortened to simply chargé, is the title of two classes of diplomatic agents who head a diplomatic mission, either on a temporary basis or when no more senior diplomat has been accredited.-Chargés d’affaires:Chargés d’affaires , who were...
ad interim
Ad interim
The Latin phrase ad interim literally means "in the time between" denotes the meaning of "in the meantime", "for an intervening time" or "temporarily" in the English language...
. Ambassador William A. Stoltzfus, Jr. presented his credentials
Letter of Credence
A letter of credence is a formal letter usually sent by one head of state to another that formally grants diplomatic accreditation to a named individual to be their ambassador in the country of the head of state receiving the letter...
to the government of Bahrain on February 17, 1972. Stoltzfus was concurrently the ambassador to Kuwait
United States Ambassador to Kuwait
This is a list of United States ambassadors, or lower-ranking diplomatic heads, to Kuwait.* Dayton S. Mak – Chargé d'Affaires* Parker T. Hart – First ambassador* Howard Rex Cottam * John Patrick Walsh...
, Qatar
United States Ambassador to Qatar
The United States Ambassador to Qatar is the official representative of the government of the United States to the government of Qatar.-Ambassadors:*William Stoltzfus – Career FSO**Title: Ambassador Extraordinary & Plenipotentiary...
, Oman
United States Ambassador to Oman
Diplomatic presence of the United States of America in Oman started in 1880 when the U.S. set up its consulate in Muscat. The consulate operated in Oman through 1915. U.S. interests in Oman, thereafter, were handled by U.S. diplomats resident in neighboring countries. In 1972, the U.S. ambassador...
, and the United Arab Emirates
United States Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates
The Ambassador of the United States to the United Arab Emirates is the official representative of the President of the United States to the head of state of the United Arab Emirates ....
, while resident in Kuwait. The first ambassador commissioned solely to Bahrain was Joseph W. Twinam in 1974.
Ambassadors and chiefs of mission
- John N. Gatch, Jr. – Career FSO
- Title: Chargé d’Affaires ad interim
- Appointed: September 21, 1971
- Presented credentials: —
- Terminated mission: Superseded by ambassador, February 17, 1972
- William A. Stoltzfus, Jr. – Career FSO
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: December 9, 1971
- Presented credentials: February 17, 1972
- Terminated mission: Superseded by Ambassador Twinam, June 9, 1974
- Joseph W. Twinam – Career FSO
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: May 24, 1974
- Presented credentials: June 10, 1974
- Terminated mission: Left post August 10, 1976
- Wat T. Cluverius IV – Career FSO
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: October 4, 1976
- Presented credentials: October 23, 1976
- Terminated mission: Left post August 2, 1978
- Robert PelletreauRobert PelletreauRobert Halsey Pelletreau is a diplomat and former United States Ambassador to Bahrain , Tunisia , and Egypt , as well as the former Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs. He currently sits on the U.S. Advisory Council of Israel Policy Forum...
– Career FSO- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: February 9, 1979
- Presented credentials: March 10, 1979
- Terminated mission: Left post April 3, 1980
- Peter A. Sutherland – Career FSO
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: June 30, 1980
- Presented credentials: July 12, 1980
- Terminated mission: Left post September 1, 1983
- Donald C. Leidel – Career FSO
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: October 7, 1983
- Presented credentials: November 12, 1983
- Terminated mission: Left post October 1, 1986
- Sam H. Zakhem – Political appointee
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: September 12, 1986
- Presented credentials: October 6, 1986
- Terminated mission: Left post August 1, 1989
- Charles Warren Hostler – Political appointee
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: October 10, 1989
- Presented credentials: October 28, 1989
- Terminated mission: Left post March 1, 1993
- David S. Robins – Career FSO
- Title: Chargé d’Affaires a.i., 1993–94
- David M. Ransom – Career FSO
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: July 5, 1994
- Presented credentials: July 18, 1994
- Terminated mission: Left post July 28, 1997
- Johnny YoungJohnny Young (diplomat)Johnny Young was born on February 6, 1940 in Savannah, Georgia and grew up in Philadelphia. He graduated from Temple University with a bachelor's degree in 1966 and later went into the American Academy of Diplomacy before joing the U.S. State Department...
– Career FSO- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: November 7, 1997
- Presented credentials: December 11, 1997
- Terminated mission: Left post September 29, 2001
- Ronald E. NeumannRonald E. NeumannRonald E. Neumann was formerly the United States Ambassador to Afghanistan and previously served as ambassador to Bahrain and Algeria . He is the son of former ambassador Robert G. Neumann and traveled extensively after college in Afghanistan while his father was ambassador there...
– Career FSO- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: September 17, 2001
- Presented credentials: October 9, 2001
- Terminated mission: Left post June 7, 2004
- William T. MonroeWilliam T. MonroeWilliam T. Monroe was the 14th United States Ambassador to Bahrain. He was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on June 25, 2004, and was sworn in on August 3, 2004. He assumed his responsibilities in Manama on August 24, 2004....
– Career FSO- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: July 2, 2004
- Presented credentials: August 31, 2004
- Terminated mission: Left post August 5, 2007
- J. Adam EreliJ. Adam EreliJoseph Adam Ereli is an American diplomat and ambassador. Ereli is the current ambassador of the Kingdom of Bahrain. In 1989 Ereli joined the Foreign Service and served in Africa. He also served as the Director of the Office of Press and Public Affairs. Ereli was sworn in as the 15th United...
– Political appointee- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: July 2, 2007
- Presented credentials: September 12, 2007
- Terminated mission:
- Stephanie Williams – Career FSO
- Title: Chargé d’Affaires a.i., since
Nomination
Thomas C. KrajeskiThomas C. Krajeski
Thomas C. Krajeski is an American diplomat. He was the United States Ambassador to Yemen from 2004 to 2007.-Biography:Thomas Krajeski was born in Groveland, Massachusetts. He is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts Amherst and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.An American...
, a career foreign service officer
Foreign Service Officer
A Foreign Service Officer is a commissioned member of the United States Foreign Service. As diplomats, Foreign Service Officers formulate and implement the foreign policy of the United States. FSOs spend most of their careers overseas as members of U.S. embassies, consulates, and other diplomatic...
of the State Department
United States Department of State
The United States Department of State , is the United States federal executive department responsible for international relations of the United States, equivalent to the foreign ministries of other countries...
, was nominated by President Obama on June 30, 2011, to be the next U.S. Ambassador to Bahrain.
See also
- Bahrain – United States relations
- Foreign relations of BahrainForeign relations of BahrainBahrain plays a modest, moderating role in regional politics and adheres to the views of the Arab League on Middle East peace and Palestinian rights. Since achieving independence in 1971, Bahrain has maintained friendly relations with most of its neighbours and with the world community...
- Ambassadors of the United States