On August 20, 2026, André Bauer, a former public official from South Carolina, formally took office as the United States’ newest ambassador to Belize during a swearing-in ceremony held in his home state.
The oath of office was administered by South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson, with Bauer’s wife present to support him at the private in-state ceremony. A former two-term lieutenant governor and state legislator from South Carolina, Bauer was nominated to the diplomatic post by former President Donald Trump, and he opened his first public remarks after the ceremony by expressing gratitude for the confidence placed in him.
“Today, I had the tremendous honour of being sworn in as the United States Ambassador to Belize by South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson. I am deeply grateful for President Trump’s confidence in me and for the opportunity to represent our great country. I’m also incredibly thankful for my family, friends, and so many others who have supported me throughout this journey,” Bauer said in his post-ceremony statement.
Looking ahead to his upcoming tenure in Central America, Bauer outlined his core priority for the role: deepening the long-standing diplomatic and friendly ties between the United States and Belize. “As I begin this new chapter, I look forward to strengthening the important friendship between the United States and Belize and serving the American people with humility, dedication, and purpose,” he added.
Officials from the U.S. Embassy in Belize released a statement following the swearing-in, highlighting Bauer’s decades of cross-sector experience that make him well-suited for the posting. The embassy noted that Bauer brings both an extensive record of public service and hands-on entrepreneurship experience to the role, and confirmed that his work in Belize will center on advancing the current U.S. administration’s strategic priorities across the Central American region.
Per the embassy’s update, Bauer and his family are currently preparing for their relocation to Belize in the coming weeks. The ambassador-designate has already expressed excitement to travel across Belize’s diverse regions and engage directly with local communities and American citizens living in the country during his tenure.