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August 8th, 2021 
Awake Goy 
In recent months we have seen a number of attempts by the new US administration to develop its strategy on the geopolitical stage. The Biden team is rearranging its pieces on the global chessboard – and, as part of this process, it has finally got round to appointing new US ambassadors. On the whole, when it comes to appointing new ambassadors, Biden has taken his time, preferring to focus on internal issues in his first months as president. The US government’s failure to act quickly in this area was particularly evident during the military clashes in the Gaza strip this May, when it found itself without either a full ambassador to Israel or a special envoy for Israeli-Palestinian negotiations.
We have recently commented on the fate of the US’s attempts to nominate Mark Brzezinski as its ambassador to Poland, although, as far as the Polish politicians’ maneuvers are concerned, Washington may yet have the last word.
After long reflection, Joe Biden has finally selected a candidate for the post of US ambassador to the United Kingdom. A number of people were considered for the position, including New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg, and the former security of state Colin Powell. But the US president selected Democratic fundraiser Jane Hartley for the post, and, according to unconfirmed reports, she has already accepted the nomination. It is worth noting that Hartley, 71, has relatively little diplomatic experience, having served for three years as US Ambassador to France and Monaco, – a dual posting in which her activities included planning the COP 21 climate conference and working closely with the French special services following a series of terrorist attacks.
But the White House particularly values her fundraising work – according to the Daily Express she brought in millions of dollars to Mr Biden’s presidential campaign. That newspaper reports that a number of diplomatic experts were unhappy with Biden’s choice. It quotes Brett Bruen, former global engagement chief at the White House:
“[Hartley is] not the person we need at such a pivotal and perilous time for transatlantic relations. Diplomatic, not donor, experience is needed to guide our country and the world towards calmer waters.”
British experts agree that the appointment seems particularly strange given the importance of Washington’s relations with European nations, particularly the UK. In view of her connections to Joe Biden and her lack of experience in foreign relations, many critics see her choice as little more than a reward for her loyalty to the new US administration.
Another Biden appointment, that of the former Arizona senator Jeff Flake as ambassador to Turkey has been met with frank astonishment. Flake, 58, is a Mormon who served as a missionary in Africa and then worked as the director of the Democracy for Namibia Foundation when that country became independent from South Africa. Following his return to the US, he worked for a lobbying company linked to the populist Republican Tea Party movement. He served ten years in the US House of Representatives and six years in the Senate. After he split with Trump in 2017, and a fall in his popularity figures, Flake decided not to stand for reelection and spoke out against Trump’s so-called Muslim immigration ban, which blocked citizens of certain Muslim countries from entering the US.
As the Turkish newspaper Hürriyet notes, Flake is clearly no specialist in the Middle East – unlike James Jeffrey and David Satterfield -, the former and current US ambassadors, but nevertheless Biden is proposing him as ambassador to this key nation, replacing Satterfield, who was appointed by the Republicans. Significantly, Biden made his choice following President Erdogan’s appointment of Murat Mercan, a close ally, as Turkey’s ambassador to the US. It is important to note that as ambassador, Flake will have to deal with highly complex issues relating to the relationship between the two nations. The US and Turkey disagree on a number of critical issues, ranging from US support for the People’s Protection Units (YPG) / Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), considered by Turkey to be a terrorist organization) in Syria, to the US’s imposition of sanctions on Turkey in response to its purchase of an S-400 missile system from Russia. Moreover, the two countries are currently holding negotiations on the future use of Kabul Airport following the US departure from Afghanistan. However despite Flake’s lack of diplomatic experience (something he shares with Jane Hartley, the US’s choice for its ambassador to the UK) he has a good knowledge of the US Congress, and Istanbul is hoping that at least this will enable him to take part in discussions relating to Turkey in Congress.
Experts have commented on another of Joe Biden’s appointments – that of Caroline Kennedy, 63, the daughter of John Kennedy, the 35th US President, as ambassador to Australia. From 2013-2017, under the Obama administration, she served as US ambassador to Japan. CNN notes that Kennedy is a close friend of Biden, who served as Vice-President under Obama.
US media also report that Biden may propose another member of the family, Vicki Kennedy, widow of former senator Ted Kennedy, JFK’s younger brother, as ambassador to a European country. Ted Kennedy was a friend of Biden – they served as senators together for 36 years – and his widow Vicki is a lawyer and an advocate of tougher firearms controls.
Joe Biden’s has appointed Thomas Nides, a Democratic party functionary, Wall Street financer and experienced diplomat, as the new ambassador to Israel. Nides served as Deputy Secretary of State under Barak Obama. As Israeli media have pointed out, Biden’s administration has been criticized for not having had any senior diplomat in Israel during the recent conflict. The White House has therefore taken prompt action to remedy this lack, as a matter or urgency.
Until recently, Nides’ main competitor for the post was Robert Wexler, the former Congress deputy for South Florida, who has a great deal of experience in Middle East issues and serves as the President of the S. Daniel Abraham Center for Middle East Peace. Several Jewish organizations and a number of Jewish Democrats petitioned the President to appoint Wexler, as the person best qualified to dealing with the conflicts in the region.
Thomas Richard Nides is currently a top manager at Morgan Stanley, the largest US broker and finance company on Wall Street. In the Obama administration he served as Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources. In January 2013 he was awarded the US’s highest diplomatic order.
Commenting on Biden’s choice, Israeli media have speculated that this award was a recognition of his close links with Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and with the then President Barak Obama. It is also worth pointing out that during his term as Deputy Secretary of State, from 2011-2013, he developed very effective working relations with a number of Israeli civil servants and played a key role in securing the Obama administration’s approval for the extension of billions of dollars in credit lines to Israel.
Thomas Nides, 60, was born into a Jewish family, and his father was the head of a number of influential Jewish organizations.
Vladimir Platov, expert on the Middle East, exclusively for the online magazine “New Eastern Outlook”.
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