Overview
- The U.S. Embassy confirmed his swearing-in on Friday and said he will assume duties only after presenting credentials to the South African government.
- Until that occurs, he remains ambassador-designate and cannot perform official acts or formally represent the United States under diplomatic protocol.
- His posting comes after a raid at a U.S.-linked refugee facility in Johannesburg and the deportation of Kenyan staff, actions Washington condemned as unacceptable harassment.
- In Senate testimony, he pledged to challenge what he called South Africa’s geostrategic drift toward Russia, China, and Iran, and to press U.S. positions on Israel-related cases at the ICJ and ICC.
- The Senate confirmed him in December, and his next step is to travel to meet President Cyril Ramaphosa to present his Letters of Credence.