STORY
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office has announced the appointment of Bilal Zahid as His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Slovak Republic. Mr Zahid will succeed Nigel Baker OBE MVO, who is set to take on another diplomatic role. Mr Zahid is expected to assume his new position in September 2025.
Mr Zahid brings a wealth of experience to the role, having held several senior positions within the UK government. Most recently, he served as Minister Counsellor at the British Embassy in Kyiv from 2023 to 2024. Prior to that, he was Joint Head of the Ukraine Campaign Unit at the FCDO between 2022 and 2023. His earlier roles include Additional Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia at the FCO/FCDO (2020–2022), Deputy Director and Head of Political Section at the Northern Ireland Office (2015–2020) and Private Secretary for Foreign Affairs in the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office (2013–2015).
Mr Zahid is currently undertaking full-time language training in preparation for his posting to Slovakia. His appointment comes at a time of continued UK-Slovakia cooperation on European security, economic development and regional diplomacy.