On October 8, 2025, former National Football League (NFL) star and Republican political figure Herschel Walker was officially confirmed by the Senate to serve as the U.S. Ambassador to the Bahamas. He became the first American diplomatic representative stationed in the country in nearly 15 years. This appointment is seen as a move by the Trump administration to strengthen its diplomatic presence in the Caribbean region and counter China’s expanding influence in the area.
Walker, 63, is a long-time ally of Trump and was nominated by then-President-elect Trump in December of last year to be the Ambassador to the Bahamas. He ran for the U.S. Senate in Georgia in 2022 but narrowly lost to Democrat Raphael Warnock.
The U.S. State Department spokesperson stated that Walker will be a “true advocate for the America First foreign policy” and his appointment will help advance America’s strategic and economic interests in the Bahamas.
The Bahamas, located just about 60 miles off the coast of Florida, plays a crucial role in U.S. maritime security and regional policies.
Walker’s assumption of office comes at a time when concerns about China’s increasing influence in the Bahamas are on the rise. During his confirmation hearing in September, Walker emphasized the importance of the role of ambassadors abroad, stating that the role is more critical than ever. He pointed out that China has invested nearly $3 billion in building a deep-water port in the Bahamas and various key infrastructure projects, which could pose a potential threat to U.S. national security. Walker stressed the need for the U.S. to enhance its diplomatic and economic presence in the region to prevent Beijing from further expanding its “malicious influence.”
According to public records, Chinese capital has been extensively involved in major tourism facilities, transshipment ports, and the national sports stadium in the Bahamas, supported by loans from the China Export-Import Bank, including financing for the construction of a new hospital in the capital, Nassau.
Economic and port competition between the U.S. and China in Latin America and the Caribbean is intensifying. A consortium led by the U.S. investment firm BlackRock has been in talks to acquire assets of CK Hutchison Holdings owned by Hong Kong tycoon Li Ka-shing spread across 23 countries and over 40 ports. However, progress in the deal has stalled as the Chinese authorities intervened citing “anti-monopoly” concerns.
Robert Evan Ellis, a Latin American affairs expert at the U.S. Army War College, analyzed that China’s expanding economic and security presence in the Bahamas warrants high attention from Washington.
According to data from the U.S. State Department, since the departure of the last Senate-confirmed U.S. Ambassador to the Bahamas in 2011, a new ambassador has not been appointed. During this time, the embassy’s affairs have been mainly handled by a charge d’affaires.
Since 2011, the position of the U.S. Ambassador to the Bahamas has been vacant for an extended period, making it one of only five countries globally where the U.S. has not appointed an ambassador. Walker’s appointment is seen as a signal by the Trump administration, indicating its intention to reaffirm its diplomatic presence in the Western Hemisphere.
Bahamian Ambassador to the U.S. Wendall Jones welcomed Walker’s appointment, stating that he will receive a warm reception from the hospitable Bahamian people and will help promote cooperation and dialogue between the two countries on economic and security issues.
(Reference: Reuters)