New US ambassador to Jordan? White House sends James Holtsnider nomination to senate

The White House announced the nomination of James Holtsnider, a career Senior Foreign Service Officer, to serve as the next US Ambassador to Jordan.

The announcement was part of a slate of nominations sent to the US Senate on September 2, 2025. Holtsnider holds the rank of Counselor.

Prior to joining the Foreign Service, Holtsnider served for six years in the US Marine Corps. His diplomatic career has included assignments in areas such as Iraq, Afghanistan, and Somalia, as well as posts in Tunisia, Italy, and most recently, as Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy in Kuwait.

In Washington, D.C., he has worked in the State Department's Operations Center, the Office of Iranian Affairs, and currently serves as the Senior Bureau Official for the Bureau of Political Military Affairs.

Jordan-US relations

The US-Jordanian relationship is a long-standing and strategic alliance, with Jordan designated as a Major Non-NATO Ally in 1996.

The country hosts nearly 4,000 US troops who are deployed for counterterrorism operations and to enhance Jordan's security.

US assistance to Jordan is substantial, with a seven-year Memorandum of Understanding committing the US to seek $1.45 billion in annual economic and military aid for the kingdom through the fiscal year of 2029.

Total bilateral US aid to Jordan has reached approximately $33.6 billion through the fiscal year of 2025.