Karen Sasahara

Karen Hideko Sasahara (born 1959) is an American diplomat who has served as United States ambassador to Kuwait since November 2023. She previously served as consul general in Jerusalem until the US embassy spokesperson in Israel moved to Jerusalem, and the US consulate closed down.

Early life and education
Sasahara was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts and raised in the Boston area. Sasahara has a MA in Near East studies from the George Washington University, and a BA in international relations from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee.

Career
Sasahara is a member of the Senior Foreign Service, with the rank of minister-counselor. As consul general, she was the point person for the State Department with the Palestinian Authority. Her next assignment was chargé d'affaires, a.i. at the U.S. embassy in Amman since March, 2019.

In 1989 she served as political and economic officer at the US consulate general in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Ambassador Nomination to Kuwait
On August 19, 2022, President Joe Biden nominated Sasahara to be the next ambassador to Kuwait. On September 6, 2022, her nomination was sent to the Senate. Sasahara's nomination expired at the end of the year and was returned to President Biden on January 3, 2023.

President Biden renominated Sasahara the following day. Hearings on her nomination were held before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on March 15, 2023. The committee reported her nomination favorably on April 27, 2023. Her nomination was confirmed by the full Senate via voice vote on October 16, 2023.

Personal life
Sasahara is married to fellow diplomat Michael Ratney. She speaks Arabic, Spanish, French, and Russian.