US Senate Confirms Ronald Johnson as Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina
Official notice reached Sarajevo; only credentialing and formal assumption of duties remain, Bosnian officials say.
The U.S. Senate has approved retired Navy general Ronald Johnson as the next American ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bosnian officials said after the official notice reached Sarajevo. The appointment now awaits the formal issuance of credentials and the usual host-country procedures before Johnson can assume the post.
Members of Bosnia's leadership greeted the news quickly. Presidency member Željka Cvijanović said she wants Johnson to take up the post as soon as possible and requested an urgent meeting of the country's top officials to approve the credentials.
“Now we are waiting for (the Presidency chair, Denis Bećirović) to convene the meeting,” Cvijanović said.
Foreign Minister Elmedin Konaković also welcomed the decision, highlighting Johnson's military background. He said Johnson's professional service could make him especially attentive to the potential of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s defence industry and to opportunities for new investment.
“We are satisfied and happy with this decision,” Konaković said. He added that the appointment “confirms that we are still of interest to the United States.”
Background and next steps
The United States has been without a confirmed ambassador in Sarajevo since early 2025, when the term of Michael Murphy, a career diplomat appointed during the administration of President Joe Biden, expired. Since then the embassy has been led by chargé d’affaires John Ginkel, who has been notably involved in the implementation of the South Interconnection gas pipeline project assigned to AAFS Infrastructure and Energy.
Johnson would be the first U.S. ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina without a professional diplomatic background nominated by President Donald Trump. He began his military career in 1980, held numerous command positions and took part in overseas operations and UN peacekeeping missions. According to his official biography, he retired 16 years ago and now heads Mares Associates LLC, a consultancy focused on international security cooperation, defence modernization and strategic advisory services.
Bosnian authorities will now wait for the Presidency to be convened and for the formal delivery of credentials before a date for Johnson’s arrival can be fixed.
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