Gerald Feierstein, a former US ambassador to Yemen and senior fellow at the Middle East Institute think tank, said the nomination brings someone highly qualified but with a background that differs from his predecessors.
Mr Ratney "is a very experienced and a very qualified professional, who has worked in the region for a number of years, has handled very challenging assignments, and done very well”, Mr Feierstein told The National.
But Mr Feierstein said Mr Ratney’s resume differs from prior nominees because he is neither a political appointee nor a former general like Mr Abizaid.
“Saudi officials for the last 30 years have been very clear in saying that their preference is to have a political appointee with links to the president,” he said.
The Saudi response to the nomination will be critical, Mr Feierstein said.
The fact the Biden administration “has finally stepped up and nominated somebody is absolutely a positive development", he added.
They “nominated somebody who is extremely well qualified for the job, can bring strong diplomatic skills to the table to help address some of the challenges in the relationship," Mr Feierstein said.