New US Ambassador Nicole McGraw Arrives in Croatia

The news in Croatian

1. ambasadorica  (f.)
   Osoba koja predstavlja svoju zemlju u inozemstvu, obično u ulozi diplomatskog predstavnika. ↩︎
2. akreditiv  (m.)
   Službeni dokumenti koji potvrđuju identitet i ovlasti nekoga, često u diplomatskom kontekstu. ↩︎
3. sigurnost  (f.)
   Stanje ili osjećaj sigurnosti ili zaštićenosti od opasnosti. ↩︎
4. suradnja  (f.)
   Raditi zajedno s drugima prema zajedničkom cilju. ↩︎
5. naglasiti
   Istaknuti važnost nečega ili staviti naglasak na nešto. ↩︎
6. privući
   Navesti nekoga ili nešto da dođe bliže ili da se zainteresira. ↩︎

Translation

Text comprehension

Question 1: What did Nicole McGraw do when she arrived in Croatia?

Question 2: What is one of Nicole McGraw’s goals as ambassador in Croatia?

Vocabulary

Croatian	English
ambasadorica  (f.)	ambassador
akreditiv  (m.)	credentials
sigurnost  (f.)	security
suradnja  (f.)	cooperation
naglasiti	to emphasize
privući	to attract

Read the full story

Nicole McGraw, the newly appointed Ambassador of the United States to Croatia, officially presented her credentials to Croatian President Zoran Milanović, marking the resumption of American diplomatic leadership in Croatia after a nine-month hiatus. McGraw takes over from Nathalie Rayes and becomes the second ambassador appointed by President Donald Trump to represent the US in Zagreb.

During the ceremony at Pantovčak, the official residence of the Croatian President, McGraw was accompanied by her family, including her husband Michael McGraw and daughter Elizabeth Merrill. Joining them were the Deputy Ambassador Lauren Perlaza and US military attaché Brigadier Scott McLearn. Representing the Croatian side were Bartol Šimunić, Chief of the Presidential Office, alongside other key diplomatic advisors.

McGraw, who Trump praised as a dynamic entrepreneur and philanthropist, lacks previous political experience but has a distinguished career as an art collector and businesswoman. She opened her first art gallery in Palm Beach Gardens in 2006 and has since expanded into a renowned art investment fund. The US Senate confirmed her nomination earlier in October after Trump’s announcement in December 2024.

As ambassador, McGraw has outlined several strategic goals including strengthening transatlantic security, boosting economic collaboration, and safeguarding American interests in Croatian sectors like ports, telecommunications, and energy. Emphasizing the significance of the LNG terminal on the island of Krk, she highlighted its potential to ensure European independence from Russian energy supply, thus enhancing American energy exports.

Furthermore, she expressed intentions to encourage investment by American tech companies to bolster Croatia’s status as a technological hub. Her commitment to cultural and economic diplomacy reflects the deepening ties between the US and Croatia as strategic partners.

Appointed as part of Trump’s administration, McGraw’s diverse professional background including her involvement in charitable activities, underlines her commitment to using her platform to advance both American and Croatian shared interests during her tenure.

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