(Washington Insider Magazine) -Where are our ambassadors? Passing the 200-day mark for a new administration outspoken about its intent for global stage participation, it is a reasonable question.
Each administration best demonstrates its commitment to foreign policy through leadership abroad. President Biden has declared “America is back” to the world arena, however, a growing queue of ambassador nominations await confirmation without an evident strategy forward.
Political obstacles aside, the time to ensure the frontline U.S. presence remains strong is now.
The United States’ ability to demonstrate its leading example depends on full-strength representation throughout the international community. So too contingent is our geopolitical advantage within the great power competition, or the ability to lead through vaccine diplomacy, or to guide environmental and labor reforms, or to advance religious freedom and rights. Embassy staff offer tremendous political, commercial and consular expertise—but such is most capable with the full authority and visibility of appointed leaders.
National and economic security undoubtedly benefit when U.S. missions are staffed accordingly. But our diplomatic leaderships ranks are far from stalwart.
Described at best as fair concerns—and at its worst deserved scrutiny—peers abroad and stakeholders at home are reassessing the Biden administration’s ability to foster a lasting foreign policy agenda since the failure in Afghanistan. The real-time situation in Kabul and subsequent fallout serves Washington as a stark reminder about the importance of coordinated and resolute U.S. diplomacy—and the personnel to direct it on the ground.
Press conference talking points only accomplish so much. The soft power response to critical issues like Afghanistan’s global impact and the ongoing threat of malign influence require definitive management, communication and accountability.
A most appropriate step forward centers on personnel. U.S. objectives and diplomatic ties in Europe and elsewhere hinge on tangible action in this sphere: the White House can immediately underscore its promise to U.S. interests overseas, to our allies, and to our international standing by prioritizing leadership.
The call to action is two-fold. First, many posts await a nominee, notably with several transatlantic states. The White House has announced batches of names during the summer, including those leveraging a breadth of career foreign service talent and choosing nominees to embassies in Africa and for multilateral organizations. But gaps remain. The hope now is to see European posts addressed in the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, the Czech Republic and the Holy See, among others, as well the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, which awaits a name for U.S. Executive Director.
Second, President Biden’s confirmation rate is disheartening. For the quality of nominees, career and political alike, without movement on confirmation proceedings these credentials remain unapplied. Comparisons to previous presidents are of no value: as of the time of this commentary, the current count stands at two.
The concern is merited. Recognize the agenda juggling and Senate impasses are endured by every administration. The balancing act for legislative priorities always exists, and such tight margins on the Hill are a reality understood all too well by a White House led by beltway veterans. Troublingly, the pathway forward remains unseen.
A discernable White House strategy to move nominees forward would be telling, if not reassuring. This will demand a reshuffling of priorities, compel further collaboration by personnel and legislative teams, and dedicate greater public affairs to the topic. Moreover, this will unquestionably force the administration to work with a particular U.S. Senator around legitimate shortcomings with the current compromise for Nord Stream 2. But for effective diplomacy, the confirmation process cannot remain stalled.
With each administration, the global community requires a clear signal continuing the tradition of transatlantic cooperative security and economic partnership. Ambassadors enable this tradition, and ensure the in-the-arena pursuit of foreign policy goals and the delivery of the full-suite of U.S. government diplomacy and development tools.
If maintaining the U.S. posture as a world leader is truly imperative to this president, it is therefore the administration’s responsibility to afford direct and urgent attention to deploying the very best of our soft power tools.
