The Senate has approved President Barack Obama's nominee to serve as U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan.
Lawmakers backed on December 9 the choice of Peter McKinley, a veteran diplomat with experience in Kabul.
He is replacing Ambassador James Cunningham, who has served since 2012.
McKinley is currently Cunningham's deputy at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul.
Before arriving in Afghanistan in 2013, he served as the U.S. ambassador to Colombia and to Peru.
McKinley takes the post as U.S. and NATO troops end their combat mission in Afghanistan this month amid continued Taliban attacks across the country.