Courtney Austrian Appointed U.S. Chargé d’Affaires in Georgia
The U.S. Embassy in Georgia announced on September 8 that Courtney Austrian has assumed the position of Chargé d’Affaires, replacing Amy Diaz, as the post of U.S. Ambassador to Georgia has remained vacant since Robin Dunnigan left in July 2025.
Diaz, who had served as Chargé d’Affaires since July 30, will return to her role as Deputy Chief of Mission.
“We are pleased to announce the arrival of our new Chargé d’Affaires, Courtney Austrian, to the U.S. Embassy. Amy Diaz has returned to her duties as Deputy Chief of Mission,” the Embassy said in a post on X.
A career member of the U.S. Senior Foreign Service, Austrian has served since January 2025 as Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary overseeing policy for Western Europe and the European Union in the State Department’s Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs. She previously served as Director of the Office of European Union and Regional Affairs, according to the State Department.
Austrian has also served as Deputy Chief of Mission and long-time Chargé d’Affaires to the U.S. Mission to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and held overseas assignments in the United Kingdom, Georgia, Ukraine, and Russia. “In Washington, Ms. Austrian’s assignments have included Deputy Assistant Secretary of State in the Bureau of International Information Programs and staff to the Secretary of State,” according to the State Department.
Her academic background includes a B.A. from Swarthmore College, an MBA in Public and Non-Profit Administration from Boston University, and an M.S. in National Security Strategy from the National War College.
Austrian’s appointment comes amid continued uncertainty in U.S.-Georgia relations, which have gone through a period of tensions and a diplomatic freeze, followed by more recent efforts to restore contacts, including visits by U.S. State Department representatives to Tbilisi in spring.
The Georgian Dream government has repeatedly said it wants to reset relations with Washington “from a clean slate” and restore the countries’ strategic partnership through a “specific roadmap.”
The Biden administration suspended the U.S.- Georgia strategic partnership in November 2024 following the GD government’s decision to abandon the country’s EU bid until 2028, which triggered widespread protests.
Later that year, Washington imposed sanctions on Georgian Dream founder and billionaire honorary chairman Bidzina Ivanishvili. The Trump administration has yet to reverse those decisions.
Meeting with Maka Botchorishvili
On the day Austrian assumed her new post, she held an introductory meeting with Georgian Dream Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili, the ministry reported.
“At the meeting, the parties discussed relations between Georgia and the United States. They also discussed prospects for further developing cooperation in various fields. The sides expressed their readiness to deepen relations,” the ministry said.
Last updated on September 8, 17:05.
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