diplomacy

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.

When Canada's prime minister opted not to meet President Trump this week, it sent a message about his country's mood: Most of his fellow citizens want to keep the border closed over coronavirus fears.

A survey of 50 former U.S. ambassadors shows they believe democracy and elections are the top issues that companies need to prepare to publicly address.

The State Department's new listing of Chinese media escalates a tit-for-tat scrap over journalists that kicked off earlier in the year.

Albin Kurti, ousted as prime minister in March, clashed with the U.S. envoy who is tasked with encouraging peace talks between Kosovo and Serbia. Kurti refused to drop tariffs on Serbian goods.

It is not in the Gulf Arab states' interest to stay the course with current U.S. Iran policy, write former Pentagon officials Bilal Y. Saab and Michael P. Mulroy. Doing so could lead them to war.

"Especially during a pandemic, it is insanity for Russian-led forces and Ukrainians to be killing each other," write former U.S. envoys to Ukraine William B. Taylor, Steven Pifer and John E. Herbst.

Although no major trade deal was produced during President Trump's visit to India, there were other signs of progress in the U.S.-India relationship, writes the Brookings Institution's Tanvi Madan.

"Right now, the U.S.-China relationship is suffering from a deep deficit of trust," says Evan Medeiros, a former National Security Council chief adviser for Asia.

"America used to be a beacon of freedom, liberty and anti-corruption efforts. Now a lot of Ukrainians feel like ... we are by ourselves," says a Ukrainian political commentator.

Former U.S. Ambassador to Israel Daniel B. Shapiro warns of "severe ramifications" from the plan. The major problems, he writes, "result from having talked to only one side in the conflict — Israel."

The U.S. killing of Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani has boosted Saudi fears about becoming embroiled in escalating U.S.-Iran tensions.