Former US Ambassador to Ukraine, director of the Atlantic Council's Eurasia Center John E. Herbst believes that the Government of Georgia made a mistake when did not sign a diplomatic agreement—known in diplomacy as an agrément—accepting the nomination of Bridget Brink, as new U.S. ambassador to Georgia. 

„US-Georgia relationship is important for both countries. The two countries have good relations. I believe that the Georgian government made a mistake when refused to give an agrément to Bridget Brink. She is an excellent diplomat. This was a mistake and as a result of this mistake we don’t have currently the US ambassador in Tbilisi. Several days ago U.S. President Donald Trump announced his intention to nominate career diplomat Kelly Degnan as the new U.S. ambassador to Georgia, I hope the government of Georgia has good sense to give an agreement to the next proposed candidate,” Ambassador Herbst told the Accent.

On 10 December 2018 Foreign Policy said career American diplomat Bridget Brink slated to be named the new ambassador to Georgia was rebuffed by the small Caucasus nation because some in the Georgian government believe she is too favorable toward former president Mikheil SaakaShvili.   

On September 5 Donald Trump announced his intention to nominate career diplomat Kelly Degnan as the new U.S. ambassador to Georgia.

Ms. Degnan, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, class of Minister Counselor, currently serves as the Political Advisor to the Commander of United States Naval Forces Europe – United States Naval Forces Africa.  Previously, she was Deputy Chief of Mission of the United States Mission to Italy, Deputy Executive Secretary of the Department of State, and Deputy Chief of Mission of the United States Embassy in Pristina, Kosovo.  During her 25-year career, she also served as Political Counselor at the United States Mission to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in Brussels, Belgium, Senior Civilian Representative to Brigade Combat Team Salerno in Khost, Afghanistan, and Deputy Political Counselor at the United States Embassy in Ankara, Turkey.  She was the Special Assistant to the Secretary of State and to the Undersecretary for Political Affairs at the Department of State.  Ms. Degnan earned a B.S. in Journalism from Northwestern University and a J.D. from the University of Southern California Law Center.  Ms. Degnan earned the Secretary of State’s Expeditionary Service Award, and she speaks Italian, French, Turkish and Urdu.