Eric Wendt officially takes office as the new US Ambassador to Albania

Eric Wendt on Saturday officially took office as the new US ambassador to Albania, following a meeting with President Bajram Begaj at the Palace of Brigades. Wendt was confirmed in June by the US Senate with 51 votes in favor and 47 against, securing final approval for his diplomatic post.

His candidacy had received the support of the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations with a 19–3 vote, paving the way for final approval in the Senate plenary session.

Wendt has a career of more than three decades in the military and in international security structures. He is a retired officer of the United States Army with more than 34 years of service.

He served as commander of NATO’s Special Operations Command and has held key posts in the Middle East and the Pacific region.

During his career, Wendt was the US Security Coordinator for the Israeli-Palestinian Authority in 2017–2019, as well as Chief of Staff at the US Pacific Command.

Wendt graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and completed postgraduate studies in national security at the postgraduate school.