US Ambassador to Libya nominee withdraws after long delay

Jennifer Gavito, a career diplomat nominated to serve as the U.S. Ambassador to Libya, has withdrawn her candidacy, citing protracted delays in the appointment process and growing concerns over Russia and China’s expanding influence in the region.

Ms. Gavito’s withdrawal comes after a 32-month wait since the State Department initiated the vetting process for the position and nine months after her nomination was formally submitted to the Senate. In a statement, Ms. Gavito expressed frustration over the lack of urgency in filling this critical diplomatic post, emphasizing that the prolonged absence of a U.S. ambassador has created a vacuum that both Russia and China are actively exploiting to advance their own strategic interests.

“This delay has allowed Russia and China to gain a foothold in Libya, undermining U.S. interests and destabilising the region,” Ms. Gavito stated. “Diplomacy is our most effective tool to counter these malign influences, and the lack of an ambassador severely hampers our ability to engage effectively.”

During her testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in June, Ms. Gavito warned of the growing instability in the Sahel region, which poses a direct threat to NATO’s southern flank. She highlighted Russia’s efforts to forge closer defense ties with Libyan actors as a cost-effective strategy to further destabilize the region.

Ms. Gavito, a seasoned diplomat with extensive experience in the Middle East, had pledged to prioritize military integration between eastern and western Libya to safeguard the country’s borders and sovereignty, combat terrorism, and protect American interests. She also underscored Libya’s significance in the global energy landscape, emphasising its vast oil and gas reserves and its potential to contribute to global energy stability.

The withdrawal of Ms. Gavito’s nomination raises concerns about the Biden administration’s commitment to diplomatic engagement in a volatile region of strategic importance to the U.S. and its allies.