The United States has appointed diplomat Neil Hope as Chargé d’Affaires of its embassy to Yemen, nearly two months after former Ambassador Stephen Fagin concluded his tenure and amid mounting security challenges related to freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and terrorist threats in Yemen and the wider region.
In a post on its Facebook page, the U.S. Embassy said that, as the senior U.S. diplomat responsible for Yemen, Hope will work to advance President Donald Trump’s core priorities and support Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s diplomatic efforts in close cooperation with the Yemeni government.
According to the embassy, Hope will lead its team in implementing the core pillars of the Trump administration’s National Security Strategy, which defines U.S. interests in Yemen and the region. These priorities include safeguarding freedom of navigation in the Red Sea, preventing the region from becoming a safe haven for terrorism or a source from which it is exported, and ensuring the security of U.S. partners.
The stated priorities reflect the close connection between U.S. diplomatic engagement on Yemen and broader regional and security issues, particularly maritime security, counterterrorism, and the protection of allies, alongside continued cooperation with the Yemeni government.
Hope is a career member of the U.S. Senior Foreign Service with the rank of Counselor. According to the embassy, he has more than 24 years of experience at the State Department and across the foreign policy and national security communities, during which he held leadership positions focused on the Middle East and South Asia.
His appointment came about a week after the embassy announced the appointment of “Khaled” as its new official spokesperson. The embassy said his role would involve representing the United States and identifying areas of cooperation that could enhance the security and prosperity of both countries, including trade, investment, and counterterrorism, while working to restore Yemen’s role as “a vital transportation hub and a safe passage for ships.”
Hope succeeds Jonathan Peccia as head of the mission. Peccia was appointed Deputy Chief of Mission in August 2024 and had served as Acting Chargé d’Affaires and managed the U.S. mission to Yemen since the second half of that year. During this period, he met with Yemeni government officials in his capacity as a representative of the embassy.
Former U.S. Ambassador to Yemen Stephen Fagin assumed his post after presenting his credentials in Aden on June 1, 2022, following extended periods of service as Chargé d’Affaires.
In October 2025, the U.S. State Department announced Fagin’s appointment as civilian lead of the Civil-Military Coordination Center tasked with supporting the implementation of President Trump’s peace plan for Gaza and coordinating the delivery of humanitarian aid to the territory.
