Credit: Gary Raynaldo /  ©Diplomatic Times /   Ambassador Karen Pierce, Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom to the UN speaks at  International Peace Institute  forum on Somalia  in New York City Feb. 25, 2020. 

By Gary Raynaldo          DIPLOMATIC  TIMES

UNITED  NATIONS  –  NEW  YORK – England has named veteran diplomat Karen Pierce as its new ambassador to the United States, the first woman to hold the post.    Pierce, 60, currently serves as  the United Kingdom’s  Ambassador to the United Nations in New York and Permanent Representative at the UN Security Council.  Pierce will replace Kim Darroch, who was forced to quit the post in 2019 after leaked diplomatic cables revealed his criticisms of U.S. President Trump. The senior diplomat resigned from his post after diplomatic cables where he called the Trump  “incompetent”, “inept” and “insecure” were made public.  Pierce was also  Britain’s ambassador to Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Deeply honoured to arrive in DC as British Ambassador-designate to the US, a country I respect and admire deeply. We are each other’s closest ally, sharing and overcoming challenges.
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— Karen Pierce (@KarenPierceUN) March 20, 2020

My last time to vote @UN

Fitting that it focussed on ensuring @UNpeacekeeping can continue to deliver in #SouthSudan.

🇬🇧 will continue to use its position as a Permanent Member of #UNSC to further the cause of peacekeeping as a vital tool in containing & reducing conflict. pic.twitter.com/rg5CDCcoCt

— Karen Pierce (@KarenPierceUN) March 12, 2020

Ambassador  Pierce Anxious to Get To Work in D.C. 

“Today, both countries share a common priority in tackling the coronavirus pandemic. My immediate task once I take up the Ambassador role will be to work with the Embassy team and consulates across the US to that end and to support British citizens here.”

  -U.K. Ambassador Karen Pierce via twitter  March 21, 2020

Congratulations @UKinUSA Ambassador Karen Pierce. I look forward to working with you closely as we continue to strengthen the #specialrelationship! 🇺🇸🇬🇧 https://t.co/y5TT5dEdqh

— Ambassador Johnson (@USAmbUK) March 19, 2020

Credit: Gary Raynaldo /  © Diplomatic Times /  Ambassador Karen Pierce, Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom to the United Nations and President of the Security Council for the month of November briefs reporters at UN world headquarters Nov. 1, 2019. 

Pierce joined the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) in 1981. After a period of training in Japanese, she was posted to Tokyo as a Third Secretary in 1984. In 1987, she returned to London and joined the Security Policy Department of the FCO. From 1992 to 1995, she was based in Washington, D.C., as Private Secretary to the Ambassador. She held various positions at the FCO between 1996 and 2000: Team Leader for Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova (1996 to 1997), Deputy Head Eastern Adriatic (Balkans) Department (1997 to 1999), and Head of the FCO Newsroom (1999 to 2000). From 2006 to 2009 Pierce was the UK’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York. In this capacity, she acted as the President of the UN Security Council in April 2007 and in May 2008. From 2009 to 2012 she was Director, South Asia and Afghanistan at the FCO, acting as the UK Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan June 2010 – June 2011. From 2012 to 2015 Pierce was the Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom to the United Nations in Geneva, and also to other international organisations in Geneva including the World Trade Organization. From May 2015 to February 2016 she was the United Kingdom’s Ambassador to the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. Until early 2018, she served as the FCO’s Director General Political. Pierce was appointed as the UK’s Permanent Representative to the UN in March 2018, the first woman to take on this role.  During her time in office, Britain coordinated the Council’s activities on Myanmar.