A report about a covert effort to delay their release until after the 1980 presidential election drew anger, resignation and disbelief from the survivors of the crisis.
Tag Archives: Diplomatic Service, Embassies and Consulates
Was This Washington Portrait Really by Charles Peale? Experts Took a Look.
The authenticity of the painting, which was seized by the British Navy during the Revolutionary War, had been questioned because of overpainting and gaps in its provenance.
As Taliban Settle In, Kabul’s Green Zone Comes Back to Life
Walking down its streets a year ago was like wandering into the modern ruins of another empire come and gone from Afghanistan. Now, the Taliban have adopted the former diplomatic enclave as their own.
A U.S. Ambassador Finds Himself on Hostile Ground in Hungary
David Pressman, a gay human rights lawyer, has been accused by pro-government media in Hungary of undermining traditional values, violating diplomatic conventions and meddling in the judiciary.
The Life of an Ambassador’s Wife
In Burkina Faso, a diplomatic spouse spends her days within the boundaries of the embassy.
Russian Agents Suspected of Directing Far-Right Group to Mail Bombs in Spain
U.S. officials say the operation may be a signal by Russia that the country and its proxies could carry out more terrorist actions in Europe if nations continue supporting Ukraine.
Taiwan’s Top Diplomat in Washington Walks a Delicate Line
Taiwan’s representative, Bi-khim Hsiao, calls herself a “cat warrior” walking a delicate diplomatic line. China calls her a troublemaker who could trigger a war.
Inside the Case Against General Salvador Cienfuegos Zepeda
A Times Magazine-ProPublica investigation reveals how the U.S. painstakingly built a case against a Mexican general suspected of links to organized crime — and then decided to let him go.
U.S. and Ukrainian Embassies Targeted by Letter Bombs in Spain
One of the six packages containing “pyrotechnic material” was also sent to the prime minister’s office in Madrid, prompting the authorities to increase security.
How Taiwan’s ‘Adorable’ and Ambitious Diplomacy Aims to Keep the Island Safe
Even as China’s threats on reunification grow more pointed, most recently at the Communist Party congress, Taiwan is working creatively to bolster its alliances.
Australian Economic Adviser Sentenced to Three Years in Myanmar
Sean Turnell, arrested five days after the military seized power in a coup, has been convicted by the junta of violating the country’s official secrets act.
United Nations General Assembly Returns to New York
The first day of the U.N. General Assembly brought street closings and detours, but also more crowds for the city’s stores and restaurants.
Will Anyone Punish Iran for Its Murderous Campaign?
Making a deal with Iran now is as wise as striking a new arms-control agreement with Vladimir Putin.
Why the U.S. Offered to Swap Griner for Bout, a Russian Arms Dealer
The negotiations raise questions about what, if any, standards should apply when the United States agrees to trade prisoners.
Bolsonaro Gathers New Audience for Old Claim: Brazil’s Elections Could Be Rigged
President Jair Bolsonaro elevated his vote-fraud claims from a matter of domestic politics to foreign policy, heightening international fears that he would dispute the coming election.
History Haunts Ukraine’s Undiplomatic Voice in Berlin
Debate over a Ukrainian nationalist leader’s role in the Holocaust has exposed how views of the past shape European allies’ relationships with Kyiv.
Kansas Woman Who Joined ISIS Left a ‘Trail of Betrayal’
Allison Fluke-Ekren, a Muslim convert from Kansas, rose through the ranks of the Islamic State in Syria, where she provided military training to women and girls, including her daughter.
Why China Is Miles Ahead in a Pacific Race for Influence
To many observers, the South Pacific today reveals what American decline looks like. Even as Washington tries to step up its game, it is still far behind, mistaking speeches for impact and interest for influence.
Russian Diplomat Resigns Over Ukraine War
Boris Bondarev, a counselor at the Russian mission in Geneva, quit in a rare example of an official breaking with the Kremlin over its war in Ukraine.
A Crumbling Russian ‘Spyville’ Returns to Polish Hands
A Warsaw housing complex built in the 1970s and rented by Russia was reputed to be a nest of spies. The city’s government has seized the site and pledged to hand it over to the Ukrainian community.
Russia Releases Trevor Reed, Former U.S. Marine, in Prisoner Swap
Trevor Reed had been detained since 2019, after he was accused of assaulting and endangering the lives of two police officers.
Biden Picks Bridget Brink to Be Ambassador to Ukraine
The U.S. Embassy, which closed just before Russia’s invasion, could reopen “over a couple of weeks,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said.
U.S. Pressured to Open Consulates in Jerusalem and Western Sahara
Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken, on travels through the Middle East and North Africa over the past week, was urged by Arab leaders to make good on past promises.
Missiles Fired From Iran Hit Near U.S. Consulate Site in Iraq
No serious injuries were reported from the strike, outside the city of Erbil in Iraqi Kurdistan, and an American official said the consulate site was undamaged.
Afghan Embassy, Now Out of Money, Will Shut Down, U.S. Says
The development caps a sad saga for Afghan diplomats, who have 30 days to apply to remain in the United States or face the threat of deportation.
‘Free Ukraine Street’: Russian Embassies Get Pointed New Addresses
Officials in many European cities are giving streets, squares and intersections in front of Russian missions names with pro-Ukraine themes.
In Ukraine’s West, Lviv Makes Itself a Vital Rear Base
Spared direct attacks so far, the city has become a transit point for thousands of fleeing refugees and for men and supplies headed to the front lines.
Why the Chinese Internet Is Cheering Russia’s Invasion
As the world overwhelmingly condemns the assault on Ukraine, online opinion in China is mostly pro-Russia, pro-war and pro-Putin.
U.S. Warns Americans Abroad Not to Count on a Rescue
In Ukraine and Ethiopia, Biden officials have made clear that the 2021 Kabul airlift was a “unique” operation that won’t be repeated.
Afghan Diplomats Seek Permission to Remain in U.S.
American banks have suspended government accounts to prevent the Taliban from gaining access to funds, suspending the salaries of many workers.
U.S. Pulls Most Diplomats From Kyiv as Tensions Mount
Western officials made another diplomatic push on Saturday to dissuade President Vladimir V. Putin from invading Ukraine.
Puzzle in Ukraine Crisis: Where’s the U.S. Ambassador?
Diplomats say President Biden’s 13-month delay in sending an envoy to a top crisis spot is impossible to explain.
Phyllis Oakley, Female Pioneer at the State Department, Dies at 87
She had to quit the foreign service to marry. But she was reinstated 16 years later, when female employees challenged the department’s sexist traditions, and she thrived.
A ‘NATO Nerd’ Thrown Into the Crisis Over Russia and Ukraine
Julianne Smith is the new U.S. ambassador to NATO, a post empty for a year, trying to consult and lead while bandaging the wounds of the Trump years.
U.S. Orders Family Members of Embassy Staff to Leave Ukraine
The State Department warned that the United States would “not be in a position” to evacuate U.S. citizens should Russia invade.
Russia Thins Out Its Embassy in Ukraine, a Possible Clue to Putin’s Next Move
The slow evacuation may be part propaganda, part preparation for a conflict or part feint, Ukrainian and U.S. officials say. It could be all three.
Rockets Possibly Fired by Pro-Iran Assailants Target U.S. Embassy in Iraq
Four rockets were fired at the fortified compound that houses the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, and suspicion fell on pro-Iran militias.
Iraq Confirms Election Gains for Muqtada al-Sadr
A court certified October’s parliamentary vote that gave Muqtada al-Sadr’s party a plurality of seats, clearing a path for a government to be formed.
Biden Taps Michelle Kwan and Caroline Kennedy for Ambassador Posts
Ms. Kennedy, nominated to be ambassador to Australia, and Ms. Kwan, nominated to be the envoy to Belize, were prominent Biden supporters during the 2020 campaign season.
Inside the Fall of Kabul: An On-the-Ground Account
Against all predictions, the Taliban took the Afghan capital in a matter of hours. This is the story of why and what came after, by a reporter and photographer who witnessed it all.
Israeli Company’s Spyware Is Used to Target U.S. Embassy Employees in Africa
The hack is the first known case of the spyware, known as Pegasus, being used against American officials.
With No Resources, Authority or Country, Afghan Ambassador Presses On
Adela Raz arrived in Washington just before her country fell and has struggled to keep her embassy going. A dinner with U.S. veterans was a priority.
In Israel, the New U.S. Ambassador’s Home Lacks a Certain View
The Trump administration sold the luxurious estate where envoys had lived for decades when it moved the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem.
Zalmay Khalilzad Battles Critics in U.S. and Afghanistan
Zalmay Khalilzad, who stepped down as the envoy for Afghanistan after the U.S. exit, has defended the deal he negotiated with the Taliban during the Trump administration.
Gulf States Withdraw Ambassadors to Lebanon Over Criticism of Yemen War
With a few stray comments from a minor minister, Lebanon once again found itself caught in the rivalry between Saudi Arabia and Iran, underscoring just how vulnerable it is to the whims of its more powerful neighbors.
State Department Eases Restrictions for Diplomats Abroad
The State Department is easing some restrictions after employees said that their jobs overseas were harder than they needed to be.
Erdogan Threatens to Expel 10 Western Ambassadors
The move follows a statement from the envoys demanding the release of a prominent philanthropist jailed since 2017.
Russia Breaks Diplomatic Ties with NATO
Moscow’s decision to end its diplomatic mission to the alliance will end a long post-Cold War experiment in building trust between militaries.
Cases of ‘Havana Syndrome’ Reported at U.S. Embassy in Colombia
The State Department is investigating new complaints of mysterious brain injuries before Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken’s visit to the country next week.
Pakistan Says U.N. Envoy of Old Afghan Government Should Vacate Seat
Stopping short of urging that a Taliban envoy to the U.N. be accepted, Pakistan’s foreign minister suggested that stability had improved in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan.