United States: dozens of ambassadors still not confirmed by the Senate

Biden administration spokesperson Jen Psaki at the White House, Washington, August 11, 2021. AP - Susan Walsh

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3 min

Since his arrival at the White House, Joe Biden has said he wants to return to the international scene and strengthen relations damaged by Donald Trump with allied countries, especially European.

But in more than seven months of presidency, only one ambassador to one country, Mexico, has been confirmed. 

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With our correspondent in New York,

Loubna Anaki

Joe Biden had promised to get

American diplomacy back

on track.

But for the moment, its ambassadors are missing.

According to the president of the American Association of the Diplomatic Corps, there are currently 80 diplomatic positions vacant.

Unheard of in the past in the United States.

By comparison, during the same period of their presidency, Donald Trump had 19 validated ambassadors, Barack Obama 59. Joe Biden has only one, that to Mexico.

However, the American president did send the list of his nominations to Congress.

However, the validation process is dragging on.

In question, the busy agenda of Congress, busy voting various plans to revive the economy and

infrastructure

.

Another factor of inertia: political maneuvers.

Some Republican senators are blocking to put pressure on Joe Biden on other issues.

Bipartisan support

This week, the spokesperson for the White House criticized the slowness of the Senate and called for the nominations already communicated to be validated as quickly as possible.

“ 

Many candidates have the support of both parties, so why drag it out? 

“, Launched Jen Psaki.

In the meantime, this blockage risks sending the wrong signals on the management of diplomacy by the Biden administration.

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To read also: "The return of a human American diplomacy"

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