R. Nicholas Burns
R. Nicholas Burns | |
|---|---|
Official portrait, 2022 | |
| 13th United States Ambassador to China | |
| In office April 1, 2022 – January 18, 2025 | |
| President | Joe Biden |
| Preceded by | Terry Branstad |
| Succeeded by | David Perdue |
| 19th Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs | |
| In office March 18, 2005 – February 29, 2008 | |
| President | George W. Bush |
| Preceded by | Marc Grossman |
| Succeeded by | William J. Burns |
| 19th United States Ambassador to NATO | |
| In office August 7, 2001 – March 7, 2005 | |
| President | George W. Bush |
| Preceded by | Sandy Vershbow |
| Succeeded by | Victoria Nuland |
| United States Ambassador to Greece | |
| In office December 22, 1997 – July 29, 2001 | |
| President | Bill Clinton George W. Bush |
| Preceded by | Thomas Niles |
| Succeeded by | Thomas Miller |
| 16th Spokesperson for the United States Department of State | |
| In office 1995–1997 | |
| President | Bill Clinton |
| Preceded by | Mike McCurry |
| Succeeded by | James Rubin |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Robert Nicholas Burns January 28, 1956 Buffalo, New York, U.S. |
| Spouse | Elizabeth Baylies |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | Boston College (BA) Johns Hopkins University (MA) |
Robert Nicholas Burns (born January 28, 1956) is an American diplomat and international relations scholar. He served as the United States ambassador to China from 2022 to 2025.
Burns has had a 25-year career in the State Department and has served as under secretary of state for political affairs. Appointed by President George W. Bush, he was confirmed by the United States Senate on March 17, 2005, and was sworn into office by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. As under secretary, he oversaw the bureaus responsible for U.S. policy in each region of the world and served in the senior career Foreign Service position at the department. He retired on April 30, 2008. He was a visiting scholar at the Woodrow Wilson Center in summer 2008.
President Joe Biden nominated Burns to be ambassador to China in August 2021. He was confirmed by the Senate on December 16, 2021, by a vote of 75–18. He presented his credentials on April 1, 2022.