Robert Silverman has been appointed as the new Chargé d’Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Cairo, Egypt, effective February 2026. The appointment comes at a critical juncture for both nations, signaling continued diplomatic engagement between the United States and Egypt.
Silverman previously served in the U.S. Foreign Service with a focus on the Middle East, a region that has held his interest since growing up in Iowa. He studied Arabic at Princeton University and continued his studies at the American University in Cairo. The U.S. Embassy in Egypt details his extensive experience in the region.
During his career, Silverman and his wife, Young-Mi, have been stationed at various U.S. Embassies throughout the Middle East, including a prior assignment in Cairo, where their daughter was born and raised. While in Cairo, Silverman formed a friendship with the late Egyptian playwright Ali Salem and translated one of Salem’s books, “A Drive to Israel,” into English, which was published in 2002.
Prior to returning to diplomatic service, Silverman spent ten years in the private sector. He co-founded the American organization IJMA, dedicated to fostering dialogue between Muslims and Jews in the United States, taught courses on U.S. Foreign policy, and served as editor-in-chief of The Jerusalem Strategic Tribune, a journal focused on international affairs.
The U.S. Embassy in Cairo is currently working with partners to preserve Egypt’s cultural heritage, with an application deadline of March 21, 2026, for related initiatives. More information is available on GovServ.
The U.S. Embassy’s mission in Egypt is to advance U.S. Interests and protect American citizens within the country, according to the embassy’s official website. Alongside Silverman, Evinia Sidaria serves as Deputy Chief of Mission.
Sidaria, a career Foreign Service officer, joined the State Department in 1999 and previously served as an economic officer at the U.S. Embassy in Cairo from 2007 to 2009. She has similarly held the position of Chargé d’Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Doha and served as the Director for Arabian Peninsula Affairs at the State Department.
