Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov Explains How U.S. Diplomacy Work

Lavrov: how US diplomacy works. pic.twitter.com/g83VFZjzIg

— tim anderson (@timand2037) March 5, 2023

WNU Editor: I saw first hand how US diplomacy worked at an ICAO General Assembly in the early 1990s.

I was working for ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) in Montreal at the time, and the main point of this particular General Assembly was to standardize all equipment used by airports around the world. 

Tens of billions of dollars were involved, and I saw first hand the US delegation pulling all the stops and whistles to make sure US companies were going to be selected to provide these standardized systems.The Japanese and a collection of European countries were offering what IMHO was an excellent alternative to what the US was offering, but I could tell at the time the US were more active behind the scenes (i.e. more banquets, parties, open bars, etc.)

Yup. The arm twisting, threats, bribes, etc., that happened during this particular Assembly was quite an education for me.

Needless to say when the votes finally came in, the US delegation got everything that they wanted.

A Large Number Of Top U.S. Diplomats Have Left The State Department

The Guardian: Top ranks of US diplomacy 'depleted at dizzying speed' under Trump

Barbara Stephenson, head of foreign service association, says US has lost more than half its career ambassadors since Donald Trump took office.

The US has lost more than half its career ambassadors and a significant proportion of other senior diplomats since Donald Trump took office, the head of the foreign service association has said.

Barbara Stephenson, a former ambassador to Panama and charge d’affaires in London, said that the top ranks of US diplomacy were being “depleted at dizzying speed”, and the state department was under “mounting threats”.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: The U.S. State Department has responded .... Union says career diplomats bolting; State Dept. fires back (FOX News). Hmmmm .... career ministers are down from “33 to 19” (of which a few of them were going to retire anyway), and minister counselors have fallen from 431 after Labor Day to 369 in November and “are still falling.” Is this a big thing .... no .... people will be promoted and these positions will be filled with time. The big problem is between the State Department and the White House .... specifically on who to appoint to certain positions .... Diplomats unhappy as nominee with Pence ties is tapped for State job (CNN).

More News On Top U.S. Diplomats Leaving The U.S. State Department

Top U.S. Diplomat Blasts Trump Administration for ‘Decapitation’ of State Department Leadership -- Foreign Policy
Trump Is Making US Weaker, Says Top Diplomat, As Record Numbers Quit -- Newsweek
US diplomacy cuts 'decapitates' State Department leadership -- BBC News
Top ranks of career US diplomats thin under Tillerson: union -- Reuters
Top Diplomat Says US Has Lost 60% of Its Career Ambassadors Under President Trump -- TIME
'Rapid loss' of US diplomats under Trump Administration prompts fears of weakened influence -- DW

Is The U.S. Defense Department Replacing The State Department

The State Department, Not The Pentagon, Should Lead America's Public Diplomacy Efforts -- Christian Science Monitor

Why is the Department of Defense getting so much money and personnel to carry out the mission?

Washington - Today's public diplomats wear boots, not wingtips. Increasingly, the Defense Department is at the forefront of US efforts to engage public opinion overseas. While the State Department formally leads the effort, the Pentagon has more money and personnel to carry out the public diplomacy mission.

This trend is risky. The message foreign publics receive – not the message the US sends – changes when the Pentagon is the messenger. Putting our military, not civilians, at the forefront of US global communications undercuts the likelihood of success, distorts priorities, and undermines the effectiveness of US civilian agencies.

According to a Washington Post report, the Department of Defense will pay private contractors $300 million over three years to produce news and entertainment programs for the Iraqi public. These well-intentioned efforts aim to "engage and inspire" Iraqis to support the objectives of both the US and Iraqi governments.

Read more ....

My Comment: When the call was made for State Department employees to man the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad during the height of its civil war .... there were few if any takers. The harm that this did to the State department is now obvious .... why reward those over those who risk their lives everyday.

The U.S. State Department will always play an important role in diplomacy .... but its day as being the only sole U.S. diplomat is no more.