Diplomatic Service, Embassies and Consulates
U.S. Offer to Swap Russian Arms Dealer for Griner Highlights Uncomfortable Choices
For their families as well, the choice looks different than for geopolitical figures worried about the precedent. “It’s a hard call, and fortunately I’m not the president of the United States,” David Whelan, Paul’s brother, told Fox News on Thursday. “But if the president makes that difficult decision, I would absolutely support Paul’s release if […]
Know More
From Benghazi to Raqqa, a Kansas Woman Left a ‘Trail of Betrayal’
ALEXANDRIA, Va. — A teacher from Kansas who had converted to Islam traveled to the most dangerous conflicts in the world — Libya, Iraq, Syria — hoping to wage war. Syria was where the teacher, Allison Fluke-Ekren, ultimately made her mark: She rose through the ranks of the Islamic State, commanding a battalion of female […]
Know More
Russian Diplomat Resigns Over Ukraine War
GENEVA — A diplomat in Russia’s mission to the United Nations in Geneva quit his post on Monday, expressing shame over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and describing it as a crime against both countries. Boris Bondarev, a counselor in the Russian mission since 2019 who described himself as a 20-year veteran of Russia’s Foreign Ministry, […]
Know More
A Crumbling Russian ‘Spyville’ Returns to Polish Hands
WARSAW — Soviet diplomats moved out of the hulking Warsaw housing compound more than 30 years ago. But some Russians stayed behind, sheltering until the early 2000s behind a fence topped with barbed wire from a city that, with the collapse of their empire, had suddenly become hostile territory — and an important intelligence target. […]
Know More
Russia Releases Trevor Reed, Former U.S. Marine, in Prisoner Swap
Mr. Richardson said on CNN on Wednesday that he believed Mr. Biden was moved by the humanitarian need to secure Mr. Reed’s release. Family members said he was suffering from active tuberculosis while in detention in Russia. But Mr. Biden’s decision to approve the prisoner swap also came after weeks of intense public pressure from […]
Know More
Why the Chinese Internet Is Cheering Russia’s Invasion
The countries’ friendship has “no limits,” they declared. Given that the leaders met just weeks before the invasion, it would be understandable to conclude that China should have had better knowledge of the Kremlin’s plans. But growing evidence suggests that the echo chamber of China’s foreign policy establishment might have misled not only the country’s […]
Know More
Phyllis Oakley, Female Pioneer at the State Department, Dies at 87
Phyllis Oakley, whose 25-year diplomatic career in the State Department almost didn’t happen because of an unwritten rule that forbade female foreign service officers from marrying, died on Jan. 22 at a hospital in Washington. She was 87. Her son, Thomas Oakley, confirmed the death. He said that she had been in good health but […]
Know More
A ‘NATO Nerd’ Thrown Into the Crisis Over Russia and Ukraine
“If one person can help NATO recover from the PTSD syndrome from Trump, it’s her,” Ms. Domenach said. “She is the right person, long awaited, coming at time of crisis, which is so hard, but she is empowered.” Ms. Smith is already making inroads to better consultation with allies, which is the key to U.S. […]
Know More
Iraq Confirms Election Gains for Muqtada al-Sadr
Iraq’s Federal Supreme Court on Monday upheld the results of the country’s October parliamentary elections, resolving a dispute that had stalled the formation of a new government as Iran-backed Shiite Muslim militias contested gains by a rival Shiite political bloc. The court certified the victory of Muqtada al-Sadr, the influential Shiite cleric who is regarded […]
Know More