The Diplomacy Cable 01/09/2017
The Diplomacy Cable
With the invention of the telegraph cables in the 19th century, international consulates and embassies began sending shorter encrypted telegrams, using Morse Code. While the messages are now sent electronically, the moniker “cable” stuck and the term is still in use today for shorter, encrypted diplomatic messages.
Obama Envoys Denied Extensions
Politically appointed ambassadors are required to leave their overseas post by Inauguration day “without exceptions”, according to the New York Times. This breaks decades of precedent which typically provided diplomats with a grace period to transition. Critical countries could be left without Senate-confirmed envoys for months.
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Brexit and the UK’s Negotiation
According to Norway’s prime minister Erna Solberg, Britain lacks the negotiation skills for successful Brexit talks after being a member of the European Union (EU) for over four decades. This is reinforced by Britain’s EU ambassador Sir Ivan Rogers’ resignation. Rogers, in his resignation, later also commented on the British civil service’s lack of negotiating experience, reports the Guardian.
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Trump and Taiwan
Chinese tabloid Global Times warns that China will take revenge if President-elect Trump reneges the One-China policy. According to Reuters, “Beijing considers self-governing Taiwan a renegade province ineligible for state-to-state relations”. China has asked that the US not engage Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen in formal government meetings.
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Cyprus Peace Talks
According to BBC, “Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci met in the first of a series of meeting place for this week”. Both leaders acknowledge that while there remain many issues to work out, they are both committed to achieving a deal. If the talks are successful, Britain, Greece, and Turkey will join.
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Martin McGuinness Resigns
Martin McGuinness, a veteran Sinn Fein politician, resigned from his position as Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland in protest at how the First Minister Arlene Foster and her party have dealt with an ill-fated renewable energy scheme. RTE reports this resignation will likely lead to an election in the Northern Ireland Assembly, and McGuinness said “we now need an election to allow the people to make their own judgement on these issues democratically.
Diplomacy Fast Facts:
What year did the US officially recognize the Soviet Union?
1933
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Patricia Mace is a second semester graduate student at Seton Hall University. She is currently pursuing her dual master’s degrees in Diplomacy and International Relations and Strategic Communications. She received her undergraduate degrees from University of Delaware.
Erin Dobbs is a second year graduate student at Seton Hall University. She is pursuing her master’s degree in diplomacy and international relations with specializations in foreign policy analysis and global negotiation and conflict management. She received her undergraduate degree in political science and history from Villanova University.
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