When Asel Roberts stepped off a flight from Washington via Paris and arrived in Ljubljana this week, she did not begin with diplomatic protocol. Instead, she greeted Slovenia in Slovenian.
“It is an honour to represent the United States in Slovenia,” Roberts said, speaking in a language she has been studying only since March. “Slovenia is a trusted friend and a strong partner of the United States.”
The moment offered an early glimpse into the approach of America’s new ambassador, who arrives in Ljubljana at a time when relations between the two countries are increasingly shaped by security cooperation, economic ties and a changing geopolitical landscape.
Roberts is the first career diplomat to serve as US ambassador to Slovenia since Joseph Mussomeli, marking a return to a professional diplomatic appointment after a series of politically appointed ambassadors.
At her Senate confirmation hearing, Roberts described Slovenia as one of Washington’s key partners in the region, pointing to its strategic position between Central Europe and the Western Balkans, its contribution to NATO missions and its growing role in transatlantic cooperation.
She also signalled that defence spending will remain high on the bilateral agenda, echoing longstanding US calls for allies to meet their NATO commitments.
But beyond policy priorities, Roberts appears eager to build connections on a more personal level. She says she intends to continue learning Slovenian and spend time discovering the country’s culture, traditions and people.
A veteran diplomat with more than two decades of experience, Roberts has served under six US administrations, from George W. Bush to Donald Trump. She previously held senior roles at the US Department of State, including Acting Chief of Protocol.
Born in Kazakhstan, she moved to the United States as a teenager following the collapse of the Soviet Union. Her appointment is also historic: she becomes the first American of Kazakh origin to serve as a US ambassador.
Her arrival opens a new chapter in US-Slovenia relations, one that begins not with a policy announcement or official ceremony, but with a few carefully chosen words in Slovenian.
