Senator Rubio imposes restriction on foreign outposts, prohibiting them from expressing opinions on foreign elections unless there is a distinct and persuasive American stake involved.
The U.S. State Department has issued a new directive instructing diplomats worldwide to refrain from commenting on the fairness, integrity, or democratic values of foreign elections, unless there is a "clear and compelling" U.S. foreign policy interest at stake. This shift marks a significant departure from traditional U.S. practice, which has often seen active promotion of free and fair elections abroad.
Under the new guidance, U.S. diplomatic posts are prohibited from issuing statements or social media posts about foreign elections without explicit approval from senior leadership. If comments are allowed, they should be brief and focused on congratulating the winning candidate and noting shared foreign policy interests, without expressing opinions on the legitimacy or fairness of the election.
The policy reflects the Trump administration's emphasis on respecting national sovereignty and prioritising strategic partnerships over promoting democratic values overseas. The guidance explicitly references President Trump’s 2017 Riyadh speech criticising "Western interventionists," underscoring a more restrained U.S. stance in foreign electoral matters.
This approach aligns with an "America First" foreign policy, which centres on U.S. interests and partnerships. The State Department reorganisation led by Secretary Marco Rubio aims to eliminate or merge more than 300 offices.
The new memo also instructs the Department to avoid opining on the fairness, integrity, legitimacy, or democratic values of the country in question. The focus of the State Department's comments on foreign elections will be on strategic significance rather than spreading democratic values.
In some cases, U.S. diplomats may comment on foreign elections if there is violence during voting or if the election is deemed a sham. However, in such situations, a senior-level signoff from the bureau is required, and permissions will be "rare."
It is worth noting that President Donald Trump has weighed in on the affairs of other countries in some cases, such as imposing a 50% tariff on Brazil due to the trial of former President Jair Bolsonaro. However, the new policy suggests a more measured approach to foreign electoral matters, with the U.S.' view on an election being closely watched by opposition groups, human rights activists, and can define whether a nation is sanctioned or granted foreign aid.
In other news, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has stated that the IDF strike on Damascus is likely a misunderstanding. This statement comes as the U.S. focuses on diplomatic relations and strategic partnerships, rather than intervening in the internal affairs of other nations.
[1] https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/11/us/politics/state-department-elections.html [2] https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/02/11/state-department-tells-diplomats-avoid-commenting-foreign-elections-unless-us-interest-is-at-stake/ [3] https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-elections-state-idUSKBN20B17Q
- The new policy of the State Department, which instructs diplomats to avoid commenting on the fairness or legitimacy of foreign elections, is a reflection of the current administration's focus on respecting national sovereignty and prioritizing strategic partnerships over promoting democratic values overseas.
- Under the new guidance, U.S. diplomats are prohibited from issuing statements or social media posts about foreign elections without explicit approval from senior leadership. If comments are allowed, they should be brief and focused on the strategic significance of the election or congratulating the winning candidate.
