Diplomatic Missteps by Inexperienced Envoys
Straining Alliances in the Name of "America First"
On August 30 (local time), the Associated Press reported that U.S. President Donald Trump's diplomatic envoys have been offending allied nations with a series of diplomatic blunders on the international stage.
U.S. President Donald Trump (left) and his eldest son-in-law Jared Kushner are sitting side by side. (Photo by EPA)
Danish public broadcaster DR reported on August 27 that three Americans with ties to President Trump conducted so-called "influence operations" in Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark, aiming to spread pro-American sentiment.
President Trump, who had expressed interest in purchasing Greenland since his first term, has continued to publicly state during his second term that he intends to incorporate Greenland into U.S. territory in order to secure natural resources such as rare earth elements and to develop Arctic shipping routes.
The Danish government summoned the acting U.S. ambassador on the same day the report was released to lodge a protest. However, the U.S. State Department merely commented, "The U.S. government does not control or direct the actions of individuals," without providing a serious explanation or promising measures to prevent a recurrence.
Summoning is a diplomatic measure used by foreign ministries to officially convey dissatisfaction to a specific country, and it is customary for the ambassador to appear in person.
Charles Kushner, the U.S. ambassador to France and Jewish relative by marriage to President Trump, recently sent a letter to French President Emmanuel Macron, claiming that the French government's response to anti-Semitism was insufficient. The French Foreign Ministry responded by saying, "Ambassador Kushner's claims are unacceptable," and summoned him, but Kushner sent the deputy ambassador in his place.
This led to criticism within France that Ambassador Kushner deliberately sent the deputy ambassador as a sign of disrespect toward France.
In addition, Tom Barrack, the U.S. ambassador to Turkiye and a longtime friend of President Trump, caused a stir at a press conference in Lebanon on August 26 by telling local reporters, "Don't act like animals," and later issued an official apology.
Despite the fact that diplomacy requires a high level of expertise, President Trump has appointed individuals with no diplomatic experience to major ambassadorial posts simply because they were key supporters during his election. These appointees are more accustomed to following the president's style than to adhering to established diplomatic norms. As a result, some point out that the repeated "diplomatic disasters" since Trump's first term were predictable.
There are also claims that if such diplomatic missteps and discord continue, the United States could lose its most valuable diplomatic assets-its allies. However, White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly stated, "President Trump has restored America's stature on the international stage, and his diplomatic achievements speak for themselves," adding, "President Trump has full confidence in his envoys."
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