US President Donald Trump has proposed the appointment of retired Lieutenant General Eric P. Wendt as the new United States ambassador to Tirana.
His name has been sent for consideration to the US Senate and, if approved, Wendt is expected to take up diplomatic duty in Albania.
According to his career records, Eric P. Wendt is a retired senior U.S. Army officer with over 34 years of service, most of it in the Green Beret special forces. He has also served as commander of NATO Special Operations Command, as well as in important positions in the Middle East and the Pacific region.
During his career, Wendt has held positions as U.S. Security Coordinator for the Israeli-Palestinian Authority (2017–2019) and Chief of Staff at U.S. Pacific Command. He is a graduate of the University of California, Santa Barbara and completed postgraduate studies in national security at the Naval Postgraduate School. He speaks several foreign languages, including Arabic and Korean.
Wendt was previously nominated for the post of ambassador to Qatar during Donald Trump's first term, but his candidacy was not confirmed by the Senate.
The US Embassy in Tirana has been without a full-time ambassador for about three years, following the departure of Ambassador Yuri Kim in 2023. During this period, the mission has been led by chargé d'affaires and temporary representatives.
President Joe Biden's administration had previously nominated diplomat David J. Kostelancik for this post, but his candidacy failed to be finalized in the Senate.
If confirmed by the US Senate, Wendt's appointment would mark a significant change in US diplomatic representation in Albania, bringing in a figure with a military profile and experience in international operations.
