Sven Alkalaj

Sven Alkalaj (; born 11 November 1948) is a Bosnian diplomat who has served as Bosnia and Herzegovina's ambassador to the United States since June 2023. He previously served as the Permanent Representative of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the United Nations from 2019 to 2023. Alkalaj also served as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2007 until 2012. He is the country's longest-serving foreign minister.

Alkalaj served as Bosnia and Herzegovina's inaugural ambassador to the United States from 1994 to 2000. He held the post of executive secretary of UNECE between 2012 and 2014 as well. He is one of the most prominent Bosnian Jews of Sephardic origin and has been a longtime member of the Party for Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Early life and education Alkalaj was born in Sarajevo on 11 November 1948 to a Sephardic Jewish father and a Bosnian Croat Catholic mother. The Alkalaj are a prominent Bosnian Jewish family, who settled in Sarajevo over 500 years ago when they fled the Spanish Inquisition.

Alkalaj graduated in mechanical engineering from the University of Sarajevo in 1974. He returned to the university and in 1987 earned a degree in international relations and economics, with a focus on Latin America.

Diplomatic career Alkalaj alongside then-U.S. Vice President Joe Biden in Sarajevo, 19 May 2009

Following the breakup of Yugoslavia and the independence of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1992,, Alkalaj served as the first ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the United States in Washington, D.C. from 23 June 1994 until 14 June 2000. He was also accredited to the Organization of American States from 2000 to 2003. In July 2019, he was appointed by Bosnian Presidency member Željko Komšić as the Permanent Representative of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the United Nations in New York City. On 30 June 2023, Alkalaj presented his credentials to U.S. president Joe Biden as the newly appointed ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the United States.

Legal issues In April 2015, Alkalaj was charged by prosecutors in a case before the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina with misconduct in his office as Minister of Foreign Affairs, related to his "signing off on a cash award of 13,418.59 KM to his then deputy Ana Trišić-Babić for her work at the Council of Ministers NATO coordination team." He was ultimately acquitted of all charges in February 2016.