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Where In The World Are U.S. Envoys?

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Cox Newspapers

The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 30, 2009

For Americans, President Barack Obama's foreign policy aim was stated simply in last month's address to Congress: "It is time for America to lead again."

Obama is about to find out just what that means - and so is much of the rest of the world.

A global financial collapse that much of the world blames on Wall Street has wiped out trillions of dollars in wealth from Montevideo to Macau. A virulent recession has slowed world trade to a crawl, throwing millions out of work. And a pair of grinding wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have strained U.S. relations with some of its closest partners at precisely the moment cooperation is most needed to combat global terrorism and poverty.

In his favor, Obama has the advantage of being Obama. His popularity ratings in much of the world exceed even his positive poll numbers in the United States, a stark contrast to the low regard former President George W. Bush held, particularly in Europe and the Middle East.

Here's a look at some of the diplomatic trips taken and on the horizon for U.S. envoys.

PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA
Canada, Feb. 19

WHY: To reassure Canadians that the United States intends to maintain a robust trade relationship with its neighbors. Obama and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper pledged cooperation on efforts to stimulate the economy, fight terrorism in Afghanistan and develop clean energy technology.

Europe, this week

PURPOSE: Focus on the worsening global financial crisis and security, particularly the flagging war effort in Afghanistan.

ITINERARY: The president will first visit London for the Group of 20 summit, where leaders of the world's largest and emerging economies will discuss the global economic downturn.

He then travels to Strasbourg, France, for a NATO summit expected to feature a forceful U.S. appeal for more European troops in Afghanistan. Obama will then travel to Prague for a meeting of European Union leaders.

Turkey, Sunday

PURPOSE: Obama's stop in Turkey partly fulfills his pledge to engage the Muslim world in a substantive way within his first 100 days in office. But the president is not expected to use the Turkey visit to deliver his anticipated address on Islam.

Obama is seeking to highlight Turkey's importance as a growing market, military ally, and key player in securing oil and future natural gas from the Caspian region.

Turkey's place on his itinerary gives the young administration more time to hone the Muslim speech as Obama begins new diplomatic efforts with Syria and Iran, regional Muslim powers isolated for years by the Bush administration.

HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON Secretary of state

Asia, Feb. 15-22

PURPOSE: Clinton visited China, Indonesia, Japan and South Korea to place a renewed focus on an area with half the world's population and gross domestic product. In making her maiden voyage as secretary of state to Asia, she sought to elevate the dialogue the administration holds with Chinese officials, with the State Department taking the lead not only on diplomacy but also on the economy.

Clinton sought a new focus on issues such as climate change, energy, human rights and China's repression of Tibet.

Middle East, March 1-8

PURPOSE: She attended the International Donors Conference for Gaza, a high-level conference on humanitarian assistance to Gaza, and made the rounds of Israeli and Palestinian officials. The trip was made at a time when a growing chorus of voices on both the right and left say the current peace process needs a dramatically new approach.

She said the Obama administration is committed to achieving "a comprehensive peace between Israel and its Arab neighbors and we will pursue it on many fronts," which many in the region viewed as suggesting the administration is interested in seeking diplomatic opportunities beyond the stalemated Israeli-Palestinian track, such as a possible peace agreement between Israel and Syria.

She delivered a U.S. pledge to spend most of a $900 million Palestinian aid package on support for the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank.

Belgium, March 5

PURPOSE: NATO foreign ministers meeting. She announced plans to convene a high-level meeting on Afghanistan that would include an invitation to Tehran. Clinton took steps toward possible new relationships with Syria and Iran that could redraw the map of the Middle East. She declared herself committed to plowing ahead to build a separate state for the Palestinians, despite widespread skepticism about the prospects for such a project.

She held the first high-level meetings with the Russians, trying to build a new relationship around the administration's willingness to take a new look toward the missile defense system the Bush administration began erecting in Eastern Europe.

Clinton and other NATO foreign ministers also agreed to restore the organization's ties with Russia, which were suspended after Moscow's incursion into Georgia.

Turkey, March 7

PURPOSE: Highlight the Obama administration's ambition to take advantage of a good moment with an important ally who felt betrayed at times by the Bush administration. Turkey's influence is key to resolving several pressing U.S. problems: moving the U.S. military out of Iraq, blocking Iran's nuclear ambitions, and turning around the war in Afghanistan.

Switzerland, March 7

PURPOSE: A high-drama, modest-results meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Geneva. The meeting produced no announced breakthrough in arms control or other issues, but it seemed to set the stage for a new beginning in U.S.-Russian relations.

Mexico, March 25 and 26

PURPOSE: Her visit is part of a newly concerted Obama administration effort to bolster its neighbor in its bloody war with organized crime cartels and quell mounting U.S. anxiety over cross-border violence. She is the first of Obama's top policymakers to travel to Mexico.

Clinton's agenda was broad, including the global financial crisis, climate change, trade and the Merida Initiative, a Bush administration project to counter narcotics trafficking and crime in Mexico and elsewhere in Latin America that Obama has said he wants to revamp.

Netherlands, Tuesday

PURPOSE: Clinton and Richard Holbrooke, special representative to Afghanistan and Pakistan, will attend the "International Conference on Afghanistan: a Comprehensive Strategy in a Regional Context." The session is expected to look at the international community's commitment to shaping a better future for Afghanistan.

GEORGE MITCHELL, Middle East envoy

Middle East, January and February

PURPOSE: Help the United States bring peace to the Middle East. His first visit was a "listening" tour. During his second visit to the region, he met with leaders of Israeli political parties, as well as the Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salaam Fayyad and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. He also met with Turkey's prime minister.

RICHARD HOLBROOKE

Special envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan

Afghanistan, Pakistan and India, Feb. 9-19

Purpose: Gather information, consult and return to Washington as the Obama administration reformulates policies for the region.

He visited high-level and local officials, women who serve in the Afghan National Assembly, military bases, nongovernmental organizations, anti-narcotics programs, refugee camps and the perilous tribal region.

JOE BIDEN, vice president

Belgium, March 10

PURPOSE: Dissipate the irritation left by the Bush administration.

Biden said the Obama administration will be keen to engage NATO allies in security discussions, marking a departure from when Washington often was on a go-it-alone course.

Chile and Costa Rica, Friday through today

PURPOSE: Progressive Governance Summit, a gathering of leaders from Latin America and Europe. Biden's visit will include bilateral talks with other visiting leaders.

PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA
HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON Secretary of state

GEORGE MITCHELL, Middle East envoy

RICHARD HOLBROOKE

Special envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan

JOE BIDEN, vice president

Information from The Associated Press, The New York Times, Los Angeles Times and The Washington Post was used in this report. Keyword: Diplomats, to follow Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton's travel and learn more about U.S. foreign policy.

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