WASHINGTON (AP) – President Barack Obama has nominated Roberta Jacobson, the top U.S. diplomat for Latin America, to be ambassador to Mexico.
Jacobson has been a career diplomat and serves as State’s assistant secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs. She has been a key participant in the Obama administration’s negotiations to open relations with Cuba.
Obama is nominating Jacobson after his previous nominee, Maria Echaveste, withdrew from consideration early this year. Obama had nominated Echaveste last September, but as of late January she had yet to receive a confirmation hearing in the Senate.
If confirmed by the Senate, Jacobson would be the first American woman to be ambassador to Mexico.