Actions

Hundreds Of Former Ambassadors Express Concerns About US Diplomacy

More than 200 ex-diplomats urged lawmakers to "focus public attention on the urgent need to restore the power and influence of American diplomacy."

By: Briana Koeneman

Posted at 9:03 AM, Mar 30, 2018

and last updated 2018-03-30 09:03:58-04

Hundreds of former U.S. ambassadors say they're worried about the current state of American diplomacy.

More than 200 retired diplomats outlined their concerns in a letter addressed to the Republican chairman and the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. The letter was organized by nonpartisan advocacy group Foreign Policy for America.

In it, the ambassadors urged the committee to "focus public attention on the urgent need to restore the power and influence of American diplomacy."

And they said Mike Pompeo's nomination to lead the State Department is an opportunity to do just that.

The letter called on lawmakers to grill Pompeo on how he plans to fix several issues in order to "get American diplomacy back on a path to best promote and protect our vital interests."

President Trump announced Pompeo's nomination not long after ousting former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. Pompeo's nomination hearing is expected to take place in April.