With U.S. focused on defense, China's trade and infrastructure sweep Southeast Asia The Biden administration hopes to make deeper inroads in Southeast Asia but lags far behind China, which has already built up major trade ties, as well as roads and a high-speed rail.
State Department Orders Departure Of Nonessential Personnel From Kabul Embassy The order came Tuesday, amid concerns about heightened violence as U.S. and NATO troops depart Afghanistan. U.S. officials would not confirm the number of those leaving but insisted it would be small.
China To Loom Large At Biden's Summit With Japan's Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga As the U.S. tries to enlist allies to help meet the challenges posed by China, perhaps no nation is more central than Japan. Suga is the first foreign leader to meet face-to-face with President Biden.
50 Years Later, The Legacy Of U.S.-China 'Pingpong Diplomacy' Faces Challenges April 10 marks the 50th anniversary of when U.S. table tennis players first visited China in a diplomatic breakthrough. But today, the political winds have shifted — in both countries.
Senate Confirms Antony Blinken As Secretary Of State The Senate confirmed Antony Blinken as President Biden's secretary of state on Tuesday. The vote was 78-22. As the top U.S. diplomat, Blinken will face an array of national security challenges.
Opinion: Iran Is Escalating Its Nuclear Program. Biden Should Not Rush To Respond Iran has announced new nuclear steps aimed at the incoming Biden administration, but the U.S. has leverage to push back, argues analyst Henry Rome.
Pompeo's Legacy Of Partisanship And Wading Into Political Waters Mike Pompeo's critics see his trip to Georgia, less than a month before key Senate runoff races, as another example of the secretary of state breaking norms by getting involved in domestic politics.
Under Trump, More Big Donors Are Named Ambassadors — And Controversies Have Followed The U.S. "not only has a higher percentage of political ambassadors, but has a higher percentage ... who don't seem to be temperamentally or intellectually suited for the work," says an ex-diplomat.
'I Was Asked If I Stole My Car': Black Diplomats Describe Harassment At U.S. Borders Former diplomat Tianna Spears says she was pulled aside 20-plus times crossing from Mexico into the U.S. "One time, I was told not to look at the officer in the eyes when I spoke to him," she says.
Trump Requested Help From U.S. Ambassador In Holding British Open At A Trump Resort A former diplomat at the U.S. embassy says Ambassador Robert Wood "Woody" Johnson IV told him about the request. "I advised him that doing so would violate federal ethics rules," he tells NPR.
