Tag Archives: diplomacy

The BBC reports: Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has been recorded apparently mocking US President Donald Trump in footage leaked by the media. Mr Turnbull was filmed speaking at an event for the Australian media at Parliament House on Wednesday night. The event is normally not reported on, but the political editor at Australia’s Nine Network said he had chosen …

New Zealand’s Fairfax Media reports: The weather was awful and the mood of the locals wasn’t much better when US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson​ arrived in Wellington. US media travelling with Tillerson were surprised by the number of people flipping the bird at Tillerson as his motorcade sped through town. New York Times correspondent Gardiner Harris said he had …

Paging Tony Perkins. Via the Washington Blade: A State Department spokesperson on Friday said embassies and consulates have received guidance that allows them to recognize Pride month. “Advancing the human rights of vulnerable groups including LGBTI persons is a core component of U.S. foreign policy,” the spokesperson told the Washington Blade. “All people should be protected from discrimination and violence, …

The Washington Post reports: President Donald Trump on Saturday said his maiden first trip abroad was a “home run” and he vowed to overcome the threat of terrorism, concluding a grueling five-stop sprint that ended with the promise of an imminent decision on the much-discussed Paris climate accord. Trump ended his nine-day trip with a speech to U.S. troops in …

The Associated Press reports: When President Donald Trump sits down for dinner in Saudi Arabia, caterers have ensured that his favorite meal – steak with a side of ketchup – will be offered alongside the traditional local cuisine. At NATO and the Group of 7 summits, foreign delegations have gotten word that the new U.S. president prefers short presentations and …

The Associated Press reports: Saudi Arabia is making every effort to dazzle and impress President Donald Trump on his first overseas trip, seizing on the visit to cement itself as a major player on the world stage and shove aside rival Iran. The kingdom has arranged a dizzying schedule of events for the two days Trump will be in town …

Reuters reports: German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen on Sunday rejected U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim that Germany owes NATO and the United States “vast sums” of money for defense. “There is no debt account at NATO,” von der Leyen said in a statement, adding that it was wrong to link the alliance’s target for members to spend 2 …

ABC News reports: How do you say “awkward” in German? President Donald Trump is set to appear at a joint news conference today with German Chancellor Angela Merkel after he spent months during the 2016 election campaign bad-mouthing her approach to the refugee crisis in Europe. Trump’s tough comments during the campaign about Merkel and what he called the “disaster” …

The Hill reports: Hillary Clinton posted a jab at President Trump on Twitter Friday. Philippe Reines, a Democratic political consultant who worked for Clinton tweeted, “Russians spy. Health Care is complicated. Diplomacy is exhausting. Who knew?” Clinton retweeted him, “Things I learned today.” A thread of Clinton supporters quickly replied to Reines, “she did.” Russian hacking, revamping healthcare and traditional …

The Irish Times reports: US First Lady Melania Trump is not due to appear alongside husband Donald Trump when he meets Taoiseach Enda Kenny at the St Patrick’s Day ceremony next week. Mr Kenny and his wife Fionnuala have previously appeared at the shamrock ceremony in the White House alongside former president Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama but …

Drink your polonium, comrade. The New York Daily News reports: An iron curtain has fallen on the autopsy results of Russia’s ambassador to the United Nations, who died in New York last month, officials said Friday. The city Medical Examiner announced it will not be releasing the cause of death for Vitaly Churkin, Russia’s combative ambassador to the United Nations, …

Politico reports: Former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman has been offered the job of U.S. ambassador to Russia and is in the process of submitting paperwork to accept the position, two administration sources have confirmed. Huntsman, who served as ambassador to Singapore under President George H.W. Bush and then to China under President Barack Obama, was an outspoken critic of President …

Last month Trump had to promise Justin Trudeau that it wouldn’t be Sarah Palin. Bloomberg reports: President Donald Trump has chosen Kelly Knight Craft, a long-time donor to Republican campaigns, including his own, as ambassador to Canada, according to a person familiar with the matter. Craft accepted the nomination and is completing the paperwork process required before Senate consideration, said …

The Associated Press reports: U.S. officials say the Trump administration is proposing deep cuts in spending for diplomacy and foreign aid programs to help pay for increased military spending. Officials familiar with the proposal say it calls for slashing 37 percent of the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development budgets. Development assistance would take the biggest hit. …

Reuters reports: Russia’s ambassador to the United Nations, Vitaly Churkin, has died in New York, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Monday. The ministry gave no details on the circumstances of his death but offered condolences to his relatives and said the diplomat had died one day before his 65th birthday. More from the New York Post: …

Already underway. CNN reports: The political controversy over the decision to accord US President Donald Trump the honor of a state visit to the UK will be reignited in the British parliament on Monday. Members of Parliament will spend up to three hours discussing a petition calling for the visit to be downgraded because of Trump’s “well-documented misogyny and vulgarity.” …

The Hill reports: Former Swedish Prime Minister Carl Bildt responded to President Trump’s remarks on Sweden again — this time with statistics on the country’s crime rates. In a tweet Monday morning, Bildt said the counties Trump made the speech at in Florida experienced higher murder rates last year than the whole country of Sweden did. The largest mass shooting …

The Associated Press reports: London’s mayor says that President Donald Trump shouldn’t receive a state visit in Britain because of his “cruel” policies on immigration. Sadiq Khan said Sunday the U.S. president should not get VIP treatment when he comes to Britain later this year because of his “ban on people from seven Muslim-majorities countries” and his decision to block …

CNBC reports: Trade stands front and center as President Donald Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau meet at the White House on Monday. The pair will hold a press conference at 2 p.m., ET, to give more details on the meeting. Trudeau, a member of Canada’s Liberal Party, clashes with Trump on many policy issues, and the Canadian leader …

The Guardian reports: The government has abandoned the idea of Donald Trump addressing the joint Houses of Parliament when he comes to Britain for a state visit later this year after objections by MPs led by the Commons Speaker John Bercow. The US president’s controversial visit is now expected to run from a Thursday to a Sunday in late summer …