The United States has appointed Joshua Harris as its new chargé d’affaires in Iraq, the US Embassy in Baghdad announced Monday. This comes as Washington proceeds with a phased withdrawal of its forces from the country.
Harris will succeed Steven Fagin, who is preparing to leave Baghdad. Harris will <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.newarab.com/%3Cblockquote%20class%3D%22twitter-tweet%22%3E%3Cp%20lang%3D%22en%22%20dir%3D%22ltr%22%3EGrateful%20to%20%3Ca%20href%3D%22https%3A//twitter.com/hashtag/CDA?src=hash&%3Bref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22%3E#CDA Fagin for his steadfast leadership across Iraq, strengthening ties and creating opportunities for U.S. investment. As CDA Fagin prepares to leave Iraq, we look forward to welcoming our incoming CDA Josh Harris next week to continue this important work.
— U.S. Embassy Baghdad (@USEmbBaghdad) August 25, 2025
“>assume duties next week.
The appointment accompanies a major relocation of US military equipment and vehicles from Ain al-Asad and Victory bases to Harir air base in the Kurdish region, likely the last US military site in Iraq ahead of a planned 2026 withdrawal. The absence of a permanent ambassador since Elena Romanowski’s departure signals ongoing diplomatic adjustments.
Harris, a senior member of the US Foreign Service since 2022, has focused on North Africa and Iraq through roles in the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs and the National Security Council. His overseas assignments include Slovenia, Libya, Tunisia, Croatia, and Baghdad. He holds degrees from Georgetown University and the London School of Economics and speaks Arabic, Croatian, French, Italian, Polish, and Slovenian.
Iraqi Parliament Speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani also met with Fagin before his departure, stating that discussions covered troop reductions at Ain al-Asad, boosting bilateral cooperation, and encouraging US companies to invest in Iraq.
Security analyst Ahmed al-Naemi described Harris’s appointment as a strategic move, citing his approach to Iran-aligned groups. The change is viewed as both a diplomatic and a security response amid the current US leadership’s Washington-Baghdad ties.
