“President Joe Biden intends to nominate former Sen. Jeff Flake as ambassador to Turkey, putting the Arizona Republican on the front lines diplomatically with a traditional ally at a time when relations have strained in an authoritarian era” the Arizona Republic reports.
“Flake’s nomination will require confirmation by the Democratic-controlled Senate, where he knows most of the members from his six years in the chamber, which ended in 2019. The nomination is one of the most visible posts yet for a Republican in the Biden White House. Many expected Flake, of Mesa, to play some role in the administration after he enthusiastically supported Biden over former President Donald Trump during the 2020 election. Jeff Flake, who served a single term in the Senate, crossed party lines to back Joe Biden for president over Donald Trump. A diplomatic post is hardly surprising for Flake, a former member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. His longstanding interest in international affairs is coupled with a political outlook that called on the Trump administration to work cooperatively with America’s traditional allies.”