MANILA, Philippines (Updated 2:28 p.m.) — MaryKay Carlson, the United States’ new envoy to the Philippines, arrived Thursday evening in the country.
“I am thrilled to be in the Philippines and honored to represent the United States in this important relationship,” Carlson said Friday in a statement.
She said she looks forward to working with the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. “to upgrade and modernize our alliance to face new challenges, expand bilateral trade and investment, and promote democratic freedoms and good governance.”
Carlson, who was appointed by US President Joe Biden to replace Sung Kim who ended his tour of duty in 2020, presented her credentials later in the day.
The US Senate confirmed Carlson’s appointment as the next US ambassador to the Philippines last May.
A career member of the US senior foreign service, Carlson previously served as deputy chief of mission at the US embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
She also worked as deputy chief of mission in New Delhi, India for three years, including a 10-month stint as chargé d’affaires ad interim.
Carlson has been a foreign service officer since 1985, serving at US diplomatic missions in China, Ukraine, Hong Kong, Mozambique, Kenya and the Dominican Republic. — Xave Gregorio with a report from The STAR/Janvic Mateo