Biden nominates State Department sanctions coordinator for new position

US President Joe Biden has nominated James O'Brien, coordinator of the sanctions policy department, to the post of assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian affairs, the White House press service reports. The person holding this position oversees issues related, among other things, to relations with RUSSIA.

O'Brien's nomination has yet to be approved by the US Senate. Before him, this post was held by Karen Donfried (from 2021 to 2023).

O'Brien has been HEAD of the Office for the Coordination of Sanctions since 2022. He was also nominated for this position by Biden. In this position, he led a massive sanctions program and advised on a range of issues, including peace talks in Europe, scientific and environmental agreements, post-Soviet reforms in Russia and Ukraine, and initiatives to investigate and prosecute those responsible for war crimes, the White House said in a statement.

Previously, James O'Brien served twice as Special Representative of the President of the United States. From 2015-2017, in the Obama administration, he was the President's Special Envoy for the Release of Americans Captured Abroad and worked to bring back 100 US citizens.

From 1989 to 2001, O'Brien served as senior adviser to US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, then as deputy head of the State Department's policy planning office and special representative of the US president to the Balkans.

After leaving government, O'Brien was a DIRECTOR and vice chairman of the international consulting firm Albright Stonebridge Group.