Brian Nichols
Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs
Assumed office
September 15, 2021
PresidentJoe Biden
Preceded byRicardo Zúñiga (acting)
United States Ambassador to Zimbabwe
In office
July 19, 2018 – September 14, 2021
PresidentDonald Trump
Joe Biden
Preceded byHarry K. Thomas Jr.
Succeeded byThomas R. Hastings (Acting)
United States Ambassador to Peru
In office
July 3, 2014 – October 13, 2017
PresidentBarack Obama
Donald Trump
Preceded byRose Likins
Succeeded byKrishna Urs
Personal details
Born1965 (age 58–59)
EducationTufts University (BA)

Brian Andrew Nichols[1] (born 1965 in Providence, Rhode Island[2]) is an American diplomat serving as Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs. He previously served as the United States Ambassador to Peru from 2014 until 2017, as well as the U.S. Ambassador to Zimbabwe from 2018 until 2021.

Ambassadorships

During his time at the State Department, Nichols had served as ambassadors to several countries.

Ambassador to Peru

Nichols served as the United States Ambassador to Peru from 2014 until 2017, when he was succeeded by Krishna Urs.[3]

Ambassador to Zimbabwe

In June 2018, he was nominated to be the next U.S. Ambassador to Zimbabwe by President Donald Trump.[4] On June 28, 2018, his nomination was confirmed in the Senate by voice vote.[5] On July 19, 2018 Nichols presented his credentials to President Emmerson Mnangagwa.[6]

During the George Floyd protests in the United States, Nichols was summoned by the government of Zimbabwe after U.S. Secretary Advisor Robert C. O'Brien labeled Zimbabwe as a "foreign adversary" that was fomenting the protests and threatened with retaliatory action.[7]

In late July 2020, he was threatened with expulsion from the country and called a "thug" by the ruling party after accusations that he was helping organizers of an anti-government march against President Emmerson Mnangagwa.[8]

Biden administration

On March 26, 2021, President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate Nichols to serve as Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs.[9] On September 13, 2021, his nomination was confirmed in the Senate by voice vote.

On 28 February 2023, Nichols urged Peru’s Congress to expedite early elections and Peru’s president to promptly end the country's political crisis,[10][11] leading to criticism in Peru and from Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador.[12][13][14]

Honors

  • Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Sun of Peru[15]
  • Two Presidential Meritorious Service Awards[2]
  • 2016 Charles E. Cobb, Jr. Award for Initiative and Success in Trade Development[2]

Personal life

Nichols and his wife, Geraldine Kam, have two daughters.[16] He speaks Spanish.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "PN1019-1 — Foreign Service". www.congress.gov. November 18, 2003. Retrieved 2018-06-05.
  2. 1 2 3 "Brian A. Nichols". United States Department of State. Retrieved 2021-12-02.
  3. ↑ "Ambassador | Embassy of the United States Lima, Peru" (PDF). Portmoresby.usembassy.gov. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-02-24. Retrieved 2014-07-01.
  4. ↑ "Eight Nominations Sent to the Senate Today". whitehouse.gov. June 4, 2018. Retrieved 2018-06-05 – via National Archives.
  5. ↑ "PN2051 - Nomination of Brian A. Nichols for Department of State, 115th Congress (2017-2018)". www.congress.gov. 2018-06-28. Retrieved 2018-07-09.
  6. ↑ "Ambassador Brian A. Nichols". zw.usembassy.gov. Archived from the original on 2018-07-19. Retrieved 2018-07-19.
  7. ↑ Mutsaka, Farai (1 June 2020). "Zimbabwe summons US envoy over White House adviser's comment". Associated Press. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  8. ↑ Mutsaka, Farai (28 July 2020). "Zimbabwe's ruling party calls US ambassador a 'thug'". Associated Press. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  9. ↑ "President Biden Announces his Intent to Nominate Key Members for the Department of State". The White House. 2021-03-26. Retrieved 2021-03-26.
  10. ↑ Jr, W. T. Whitney (March 9, 2023). "Indigenous rebellion continues as post-coup Peruvian government flounders".
  11. ↑ "Estados Unidos desea que Dina Boluarte y el Congreso acuerden un adelanto de elecciones en Perú | RPP Noticias". rpp.pe. March 1, 2023.
  12. ↑ "AMLO Accuses The United States Of Meddling In Mexico's Affairs Because Of Electoral Reform". nationworldnews.com. March 1, 2023.
  13. ↑ "Brian Nichols: "El Gobierno y el pueblo del Perú decidirán el momento de sus elecciones"". El Comercio. March 2, 2023 – via El Comercio (Perú).
  14. ↑ "Diversas reacciones en Perú a pedido de EEUU de adelantar comicios - Prensa Latina". March 1, 2023.
  15. ↑ "El saliente embajador de EE.UU. es condecorado por el presidente de Perú". 6 October 2017.
  16. ↑ "Black Career Diplomat Is Named Assistant Secretary of State". Washington International Diplomatic Academy. 2021-04-04. Retrieved 2022-01-12.
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