After more than four years of vacancy, George P. Kent has arrived in Tallinn and is preparing to take office as the next U.S. Ambassador to Estonia.
"This morning, Ambassador Designate George P. Kent presented his credentials to the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for processing," the embassy tweeted on Monday. "We look forward to introducing Ambassador Designate Kent to Estonia!"
The incoming ambassador can start his official duties after presenting his credentials to President Alar Karis, expected mid February.
Kent was sworn in as ambassador designate in a ceremony led by U.S. Under Secretary for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland and attended by Estonian Ambassador to the U.S. Kristjan Prikk in Washington two weeks ago.
Estonia's new ambassador designate has also served as director for Europe and Asia in the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL), and since joining the Foreign Service in 1992 has served in U.S. diplomatic missions in Tashkent, Warsaw, Bangkok (twice) and Kyiv (twice).
The U.S. hasn't had an ambassador present in Estonia since career diplomat James D. Melville, Jr. resigned in June 2018, citing statements made at the time by then-President Donald Trump regarding NATO and the EU.
Kent was announced by the Biden administration as candidate for ambassador to Estonia early last September. The U.S. Senate confirmed his appointment on December 13.
