Retired Marine General Ronald Johnson has received approval from the US Senate to become the new United States ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina. Sarajevo has been officially informed of the Senate’s decision, and the issuance of agrément by Bosnia and Herzegovina is now the remaining step before Johnson can take up the post.
The expected arrival of the new US ambassador was immediately welcomed by Bosnia and Herzegovina Presidency member Željka Cvijanović and Foreign Minister Elmedin Konaković. Cvijanović said she wanted Johnson to assume his duties as soon as possible and requested an urgent session of the Presidency after receiving notification of his Senate confirmation, so that the agrément could be approved. She said they were now waiting for Presidency Chairman Denis Bećirović to schedule the session.
Cvijanović’s position differs from earlier statements by Milorad Dodik, who had said that it would be preferable for the United States not to have an ambassador in Sarajevo at all and instead to cover Bosnia and Herzegovina diplomatically from either Belgrade or Zagreb.
Konaković also welcomed Johnson’s appointment, saying that Bosnia and Herzegovina was satisfied with the choice. He highlighted Johnson’s background as a professional military officer and said he expected that experience to make the incoming ambassador particularly interested in the potential of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s military industry, which he believes could create opportunities for new investment. Konaković also interpreted the appointment as confirmation that Bosnia and Herzegovina remained a country of interest to the United States.
The United States has been without an ambassador in Bosnia and Herzegovina since the beginning of 2025, when the mandate of Michael Murphy, a career diplomat appointed during Joe Biden’s administration, ended. Since then, the US Embassy has been headed by Chargé d’Affaires John Ginkel. During this period, Ginkel has been particularly involved in the implementation of the Southern Interconnection gas pipeline project, which was entrusted to AAFS Infrastructure and Energy, a company described in the reports as close to the current US administration.
Johnson is set to become the first US ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina without a professional diplomatic background. He was nominated by the administration of US President Donald Trump and is described as a figure close to the current president’s political circle.
Johnson began his military career in 1980 and subsequently held a series of command positions. During his career, he participated in military operations abroad as well as United Nations peacekeeping missions.
His Senate approval now leaves the authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina to complete the formal procedure required for him to assume the ambassadorial post. Cvijanović has called for that process to be completed quickly, while Konaković has welcomed the appointment as a positive signal regarding continued US interest in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
