With 99 votes in favor and none opposing, Kevin Whitaker was officially approved by the United States Senate Tuesday evening to serve as the country’s new ambassador to Colombia.
This past September, US President Barack Obama formally nominated Whitaker to be the ambassador to Colombia, receiving little initial pushback to the announcement.
MORE: Kevin Whittaker nominated US ambassador to Colombia
Though his response to questions during December Senate hearings about former Bogota Mayor Gustavo Petro‘s ousting from office raised some concerns with Colombian lawmakers, the US legislative body confirmed the candidate with ease on Tuesday.
Whitaker will be leaving his role as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South America in the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs to fill this ambassadorship.
He will replace former ambassador Michael McKinley, who has been relocated to Afghanistan as Deputy Ambassador after three years of work in Colombia.
Sources
- Kevin Whitaker fue confirmado como embajador de Estados Unidos en Colombia (W Radio)
- Incoming U.S. Envoy to Colombia Causes Stir (Wall Street Journal)