Natalie A. Baker

Natalie Ashton Baker is an American diplomat who has served as the chargé d'affaires at the United States embassy in Islamabad since January 2025. A minister counselor in the Senior Foreign Service, Baker previously served as the deputy chief of mission at the same embassy.

Education Baker received her bachelor's degree from Princeton University and holds a master's degree in public policy from Harvard University. She is a graduate of the National War College at the National Defense University. Baker speaks Arabic, Persian, Spanish, and Russian.

From August 2021 to July 2024, she served as deputy chief of mission at the US embassy in Doha.

Strategic metals agreement On September 8, 2025, Baker oversaw the signing of two memoranda of understanding between US Strategic Metals and Pakistan's Frontier Works Organization. Speaking on the occasion, she called the signing of the agreement "another example of the strength of the US-Pakistan bilateral relationship that will benefit both countries." She received US vice president JD Vance on 11 April 2026 upon his arrival in Islamabad during the negotiations between the US and Iran. She had been assured of "foolproof" security measures for the visiting delegation by Pakistani interior minister Mohsin Naqvi a day earlier.

On 5 August, she met defence minister Khawaja Asif to discuss the regional and international security situation and ways to enhance cooperation between the two countries.

Freedom 250

On the occasion of the 250th anniversary celebrations of America, Baker praised the United States' relationship with Pakistan, with the mission expressing gratitude to the Pakistani government for celebrating the anniversary. Several landmarks in the country were illuminated in the colors of the US flag, including the Pakistan National Monument and Globe Chowk on the Constitution Avenue. She noted that access to American technology would generate opportunities for US firms and make Pakistan's agricultural sector more productive, efficient, and sustainable.

On 9 June 2026, she, along with consul general Kristin K. Hawkins, met Punjab chief minister Maryam Nawaz, who appreciated the US mission's support for Lahore Qalandars in the Pakistan Super League, expressed solidarity with California (a sister state of Punjab), and praised the efforts of the Pakistani-American community. On 12 August 2026, she met Maryam again to discuss affairs related to security, education, and investment.

August 2026 demarche In response to Sergio Gor's remarks on the disputed Kashmir region describing it as "an important part of India", Pakistan issued a "strong demarche" to Baker and summoned her to its Ministry of Foreign Affairs, "categorically" rejecting the description of the territory as belonging to India and appreciating Trump's offer for mediation in the Kashmir dispute after the 2025 India-Pakistan conflict.