US President Joe Biden announced this week the nomination of Lisa A. Johnson as his nominee for ambassador to Lebanon. If confirmed by the Senate, Johnson would succeed Dorothy Shea in the position as Beirut struggles with an unprecedented economic crisis and a presidential void.
Who is the new nominee: Johnson, 55, is a career diplomat. She currently serves as deputy assistant secretary of state for Europe and Asia in the State Department’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs. She previously served as National Security Council director for Middle East affairs, as well as in posts in Lebanon, Pakistan, Namibia and other locations, according to a White House statement.
Johnson also previously served as director of the International Narcotics Bureau's Office of Africa and the Middle East, as well as Israel political-military officer in the State Department's Bureau of Near East Affairs, according to her official biography from the department.
Why it matters: Johnson’s background in narcotics is noteworthy. Lebanon is a significant location in the regional drug trade, particularly regarding the amphetamine Captagon. Neighboring Syria has become a major center for the drug, and shipments pass through Lebanon en route to other countries, particularly Saudi Arabia, according to Agence France-Presse. In 2021, Saudi Arabia banned Lebanese produce due to drug smuggling concerns.
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