Gabriel Escobar to Succeed Matthew Palmer as of Sept. 7

Gabriel Escobar (Photo: U.S. Embassy in Serbia)

Deputy U.S. Ambassador to Serbia Gabriel Escobar is slated to assume the duties of deputy assistant secretary for European and Eurasian affairs at the U.S. Department of State next week, the U.S. embassy confirmed for BETA on Aug. 30.

Escobar is to take the new post, previously held by Matthew Palmer, on Sept. 7. Media outlets in Belgrade and Podgorica recently reported that Escobar was in the running to succeed Palmer and that his new duties would include covering the West Balkans, including the Kosovo dialog, more specifically, that Escobar will also replace Palmer as State Department special envoy for the West Balkans.

Escobar was named deputy head of mission at the U.S. embassy in Belgrade in August 2019, where he served as charge d'affaires until the arrival of Ambassador Anthony Godfrey.

The career U.S. diplomat is very knowledgeable about circumstances in the region.