Popșoi: Politically Appointed US Ambassador Can Open More Doors for Moldova

Mihai Popșoi, on the US ambassador: “A politically appointed ambassador is, at times, a godsend”

The appointment of a US political ambassador to the Republic of Moldova may help to strengthen bilateral relations, thanks to the close contacts he can maintain with the authorities in Washington. The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mihai Popșoi, believes that political appointments are sometimes “a godsend”.

Mihai Popșoi

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“A politically appointed ambassador is sometimes a godsend, because, as long as he has truly close contacts with the authorities of the country that appoints him, he can open more doors and have a greater impact than a career diplomat would, however professional and well-intentioned the latter may be,” said Mihai Popșoi on rlive.

The minister welcomed Joseph Mark Burkhalter’s visit to Chișinău and stated that this is already being accompanied by an intensification of bilateral contacts.

“We already have a number of visits scheduled and a number of projects underway. So, it is certainly a decision that we welcome,” said the head of Moldovan diplomacy.

Asked whether the United States is showing an interest in the Republic of Moldova, Popșoi stated that this interest is reflected in the concrete decisions taken by the US administration.

“Of course there is such interest, and it is reflected in the concrete decisions approved by the Trump administration, including the 130 million for the Strășeni–Gutinaș line, or as it is now known – the Liberty Line. This grant is one of the largest support packages approved by the Trump administration worldwide. We must understand that the Republic of Moldova is a fairly high priority for the Trump administration, and this is abundantly clear from these extremely robust support projects. There are also a number of private investment projects under discussion. The strength of the relationship is as solid as it can be,” said Mihai Popșoi.

Joseph Mark Burkhalter is an American Republican politician from the state of Georgia, with 18 years’ experience in the state legislature. He has served as Speaker of the Georgia House of Representatives and as Acting Speaker. In addition to his political career, Burkhalter has worked in the property sector. US President Donald Trump nominated Burkhalter for the post of Ambassador to the Republic of Moldova in June 2026, and in August his nomination was confirmed by the US Senate. Burkhalter has been leading the US Embassy in Chișinău since September 2026, accompanied by his wife, Gina.

This story was translated with the assistance of artificial intelligence.The translation was also reviewed by the Logos Press editorial team.

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