United States Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson will complete her tour as Washington’s envoy to Manila in January 2026, according to a statement the US Embassy in Manila released on Monday in response to reports of ambassadorial recalls.
US Embassy spokesman Jameson DeBose said in a text message that Carlson will finish her assignment as ambassador to the Philippines in January and that her departure will follow the normal end of her tour.
DeBose issued the clarification after unconfirmed reports circulated that the US State Department had recalled at least two dozen ambassadors, including some assigned to posts in East Asia and the Pacific.
DeBose said Carlson described her career as a State Department diplomat of more than 40 years as rewarding and cited her posting as US ambassador to the Philippines since July 2022 as the highlight of her service.
The White House under President Donald Trump appointed Lee Lipton, a former businessman from Florida, as the next United States ambassador to the Philippines, according to official nomination information released in Washington.
Lipton’s nomination remains pending before the United States Senate, which must conduct confirmation hearings and vote on his appointment before he can assume the post in Manila.
Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez welcomed Lipton’s appointment and said he expected the nominee to continue the current level of engagement between Manila and Washington once confirmed.
The Australian government designated Marc Innes-Brown as its new ambassador to the Philippines after the departure of Hae Kyong Yu, who ended her term in Manila.
The European Union appointed Massimo Santoro as EU ambassador to the Philippines, succeeding Luc Veron, who completed his assignment in the country earlier this year.
Israel assigned Dana Kursh as its new envoy to the Philippines, replacing Ilan Fluss after he finished his tenure as Israel’s ambassador in Manila.
The United Kingdom named Sarah Hulton as its new ambassador to the Philippines, with Hulton taking over from Laure Beaufils, who concluded her service in the country.
China appointed Jing Quan as its new ambassador to the Philippines, following the reassignment of Huang Xilian as Beijing’s top diplomat in Manila.
Officials in several embassies in Manila said transitions between outgoing and incoming envoys proceed according to each sending state’s internal procedures and host government accreditation processes.