Latest news with #ambassadors


Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
How a behind-the-scenes advisor handpicked by Queen Elizabeth quietly transformed William and Harry into modern royals... and the two unusual conditions he demanded from the late monarch
As the King is the head of state of 14 countries and the Commonwealth, making sure the monarchy is represented properly abroad is crucial to the Firm. Indeed, while the late Queen Elizabeth II was alive she reportedly believed it was essential to help the young Prince William and Harry grow into their roles as overseas ambassadors for the crown. At the helm of this mission was the former British ambassador to the USA Sir David Manning who was handpicked for the role by the Queen and went on to work with the royals for a decade. According to royal expert Valentine Low, writing in his book Courtiers, Sir David came to a rather unorthodox agreement with the Queen. 'Manning agreed to take on the job of adviser on two conditions: that he could do it part-time and that it was unpaid,' Low wrote. Sir David did not want a full-time paid role so that he did not become 'embroiled in the formal palace machinery'. But the Queen was happy to agree to his wishes. Having met Sir David on a number occasions she was certain he would be the perfect advisor to the young royals. Elizabeth was proven right with both William and Harry developing a close relationship with their advisor. Harry and William's former private secretary - Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton - told Low: 'Manning was a real confidant to the princes. He was somebody they could talk to, they could joke with.' 'He had enormously good judgement about people. I think they trusted him. They knew he would be very discreet. And they knew he would fight their corner,' He added. What made Sir David so good at his role was not only his friendship with the boys but his understanding that the best way for Harry and William to find their footing in their life as working royals was to allow them to 'develop in ways that felt natural to them'. Meaning, if they can find their passion within the institution they could really thrive. 'These are real people. They are not cyphers,' Low said. Under Sir David's guidance Harry and William created the Royal Foundation which was a 'leaner, nimbler way of working, and avoided being weighed down by long-term commitments'. 'Through the foundation, they would work out what they wanted to achieve and how best they could achieve it.' And therefore they could also build up their confidence and understand what they can do within their privileged roles Since its creation in September 2009, the Royal Foundation has worked on numerous projects close to the princes' hearts including mental health, environmental issues and homelessness. Before he worked for the royals Sir David was one Tony Blair's key foreign policy aides during the run up to the 2003 Iraq War. He also had an extensive diplomatic career which saw him represent the British government in Warsaw, New Delhi and Moscow Prince Harry helped set up the Invictus Games with £1million worth of funding from the foundation. In 2011, Kate Middleton joined the foundation as did Meghan when she married Harry. When Harry and Meghan stepped down as working royals in 2020 they both left the organisation and instead founded their own company - Archewell. Sir David himself stood down from his role as an advisor to the princes a year earlier. A spokesman for the royals at the time said: 'Their Royal Highnesses are incredibly grateful for the guidance and support that Sir David has provided over the last 10 years. 'His wise counsel has been central to the success of their international tours and the early stages of their official work as members of the royal family.' Not only did he help the princes find their roles within the Firm but he also joined them on numerous royal tours across the world from Kate and Wills first joint trip to North America in 2011 and Harry and Meghan tour of Fiji and Tonga. While Meghan was a working member of the family it is understood that Sir David likely offered briefings on the British constitution to the American. Low's bestseler Courtiers. Harry and William former private secretary - Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton - told Low: 'Manning was a real confidant to the princes. He was somebody they could talk to,they could joke with' Sir David was the UK ambassador to the United States from 2003 until 2007. Before that he was one Tony Blair's key foreign policy aides during the run up to the 2003 Iraq War. He also had an extensive diplomatic career which saw him represent the British government in Warsaw, New Delhi and Moscow. Between 1995 and 1998 he was also the British ambassador to Israel.


Times of Oman
6 days ago
- Politics
- Times of Oman
At HM's behest, Sayyid Shihab receives Tunisian and Lebanese Ambassadors
Muscat: At the behest of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, HH Sayyid Shihab bin Tarik Al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for Defence Affairs receives, separately, in his office at Al Murtafa'a Camp on Wednesday Azzedine el Tayse, Ambassador of the Republic of Tunisia and Albert Samaha, Ambassador of the Lebanese Republic to bid them farewell at the end of their tours of duty. HH Sayyid Shihab expressed his appreciation to the ambassadors for their efforts in strengthening bilateral relations between Oman and their respective countries. He wished them success in their future endeavors and for their countries' peoples further progress and prosperity. For their part, the ambassadors expressed their profound thanks to His Majesty the Sultan, for the support extended to them during their tenure in Oman, which enabled them to carry out their duties. They wished His Majesty continued good health and a long life, and for Oman continued progress and prosperity under His Majesty's wise leadership.


Arab News
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Zelensky names new ambassadors during Ukraine political shakeup
MOSCOW: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky appointed over a dozen new ambassadors on Monday, during a big shakeup that has seen him replace top cabinet officials and envoys to shore up relations with Washington and isolate Russia internationally. The new envoys named on Monday include ambassadors to NATO members Belgium, Canada, Estonia and Spain, as well as major donor Japan and regional heavyweights South Africa and the United Arab Emirates. Zelensky launched a major government reshuffle last week, promoting Yulia Svyrydenko, 39, who had served as economy minister and is well known in Washington, to head the cabinet as prime minister. Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyna is set to become Ukraine's new envoy to the United States, as Ukraine seeks to mend ties with the Trump administration. In remarks to the diplomatic corps released by his office, Zelensky said envoys needed to support 'everything that causes Russia pain for its war.' 'While the content of our relationship with America has transformed following the change in administration, the goal remains unchanged: Ukraine must withstand Russia's strikes,' Zelensky said.


Reuters
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
Zelenskiy names new ambassadors during Ukraine political shakeup
July 21 (Reuters) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy appointed over a dozen new ambassadors on Monday, during a big shakeup that has seen him replace top cabinet officials and envoys to shore up relations with Washington and isolate Russia internationally. The new envoys named on Monday include ambassadors to NATO members Belgium, Canada, Estonia and Spain, as well as major donor Japan and regional heavyweights South Africa and the United Arab Emirates. Zelenskiy launched a major government reshuffle last week, promoting Yulia Svyrydenko, 39, who had served as economy minister and is well known in Washington, to head the cabinet as prime minister. Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyna is set to become Ukraine's new envoy to the United States, as Ukraine seeks to mend ties with the Trump administration. In remarks to the diplomatic corps released by his office, Zelenskiy said envoys needed to support "everything that causes Russia pain for its war". "While the content of our relationship with America has transformed following the change in administration, the goal remains unchanged: Ukraine must withstand Russia's strikes," Zelenskiy said.

Malay Mail
11-07-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
Trump's ambassadors to Malaysia and Singapore: Real estate logic in diplomatic clothing — Phar Kim Beng and Luthfy Hamzah
JULY 11 — The nomination of two unconventional candidates by President Donald Trump as ambassadors to Malaysia and Singapore has stirred waves of speculation across diplomatic circles in Washington, Kuala Lumpur, and Singapore. To many, the selections appear confounding. But to those familiar with Trump's worldview — honed through decades in Manhattan's real estate jungle and the gilded corridors of Mar-a-Lago in Florida — they make perfect sense. These appointments break sharply from the traditional mold of US ambassadorial roles, which typically emphasiSe diplomatic credentials, cultural sensitivity, and long-standing foreign policy experience. Under Trump, none of that matters — unless it complements one quality above all: loyalty. High-profile subordination as doctrine Trump's second term has cemented what his first already suggested — that he governs not through bureaucracies or institutions, but through personal loyalty, symbolism, and dominance. The nominations to Malaysia and Singapore are the latest arrows across the bow in his war against traditional statecraft. These ambassadors are not just envoys; they are emissaries of high-profile subordination — a form of diplomacy shaped less by protocol and more by performance. US President Donald Trump speaks to the media in the Press Briefing Room at the White House in Washington DC, June 27, 2025. According to the author, to understand why Trump picked such figures for Malaysia and Singapore, one must return to the roots of Trumpism itself: real estate. The way Trump sees cities, countries, and continents is shaped by a developer's eye. Malaysia, with its vast land, growing Muslim population, and untapped economic corridors, is viewed as a high-potential asset. Singapore, with its polished infrastructure and elite financial services, is seen as a turnkey opportunity for influence and leverage. — Reuters pic High-profile subordination leads, inevitably, to high-profile arrows aimed directly at the traditional view of diplomacy as a domain of restraint, continuity, and cultural fluency. For Trump, diplomacy is not about nurturing long-term relationships, but about securing short-term control. It is not about subtlety — it is about submission. These nominees signal clearly how Trump views political servitude: not as policy expertise but as personal fidelity. The two candidates for Malaysia and Singapore obviously meet this loyalty test to the tee. Both are believed to have long-standing ties to Trump, either through his business network, media sphere, or fundraising ecosystem. Their selection is not incidental — it is intentional. They serve not only to represent the United States but to reflect and amplify Trump's instincts on power, hierarchy, and obedience. From real estate to regional strategy To understand why Trump picked such figures for Malaysia and Singapore, one must return to the roots of Trumpism itself: real estate. The way Trump sees cities, countries, and continents is shaped by a developer's eye. Malaysia, with its vast land, growing Muslim population, and untapped economic corridors, is viewed as a high-potential asset. Singapore, with its polished infrastructure and elite financial services, is seen as a turnkey opportunity for influence and leverage. In other words, these countries are less sovereign actors than they are 'properties' within a geopolitical portfolio — each with a different yield. And just as no seasoned real estate tycoon hires an architect without shared vision, Trump would not appoint ambassadors without alignment to his instincts. For Trump, diplomacy is an extension of the boardroom, the studio set, and the campaign trail. In each of these arenas, loyalty is the currency of trust, and disloyalty is the ultimate sin. Replacing statecraft with shake-craft What makes these appointments all the more striking is how they bypass any meaningful policy experience or regional expertise. But this is not accidental — it's strategic. Trump prefers to replace the slow gears of statecraft with the sudden jolts of what might be called shake-craft: the intentional disruption of norms to create room for a renegotiation of terms — diplomatic, economic, or military. Shake-craft, like many of Trump's governing styles, is built on the premise that institutions are fundamentally flawed or slow. As such, they must be bypassed, not obeyed. This explains why the State Department was barely consulted in these nominations, and why bipartisan Senate resistance was treated as a badge of honor rather than a setback. Malaysia and Singapore: Two keys to South-east Asia In Trump's calculus, South-east Asia is a pivotal arena in his long game with China and any countries with persistent trade deficits against the US. While US enjoys a trade surplus of US$1.4 billion (RM5.96 billion) and US$2.8 billion with Malaysia and Singapore respectively, the key is Trump, not unlike previous presidents, do not consider the services sector in the whole tariff game. As and when these countries do not make a big ticket purchase on American Boeing and the likes, they are seen to be in default of Trumpanomics. Notwithstanding the fact that Malaysia Airlines System (MAS) has committed itself to buying thirty of the Big Birds from Boeing and potentially Air Asia too. Singapore Airlines will naturally do the same. With or without any accomplished ambassadors, the deals have been struck. What Trump demands are his loyalists to prevent these purchases and the likes to go off-ramp. Something akin to the clients signing on to buying the properties of Trump without backing off or out. Besides, Malaysia and Singapore sit on the strategic hinge between the Indian and Pacific Oceans, a position which Trump — and his advisers — see as critical in the broader race for supply chains, semiconductor supremacy, and strategic sea lanes. Yet Trump's view of engagement here is not subtle. He does not necessarily see Malaysia and Singapore as strategic partners in multilateralism or regional architecture. Trump sees them as chess pieces to be moved — coerced if necessary — into positions that favour American economic primacy and security dominance. In this game, he does not need ambassadors who are well-versed in Asean communiqués or fluent in regional etiquette. He needs operatives who will impose, suggest, charm, or intimidate — as required by the moment. Diplomats as brand ambassadors Just as Trump has used his family to represent US interests abroad, he now seeks to expand that brand of representation — replacing diplomacy with direct messaging, strategic posturing, and high-stakes theatrics. In that sense, these new ambassadors are not tasked with fostering understanding but with reshaping perception. They are not interpreters of US policy — they are amplifiers of the Trump brand. This explains the preference for individuals familiar with Trump's world. Their primary task is not to report from the field but to carry the flag — to execute policies in ways that are unfiltered, unsentimental, and unmistakably Trumpian. The risk of one-man diplomacy Of course, there are dangers to this approach. In bypassing career diplomats and appointing loyalists, Trump weakens the institutional underpinnings of US foreign relations. Should these envoys falter — or become persona non grata — the US may find itself without functional bridges in regions where face and trust matter immensely. Moreover, while Trump may be focused on short-term wins — favourable trade concessions, symbolic projects, or flashy press coverage — the long-term damage to institutional credibility cannot be ignored. Asean nations, after all, are not mere 'markets' — they are states with memory, pride, and agency. Conclusion: Loyalty as leverage The nominations of Trump's ambassadors to Malaysia and Singapore are not about diplomacy as the world has known it. They are about control, loyalty, and a deep instinct to disrupt and remake the world in Trump's image. These candidates do not meet the standards of traditional diplomacy because they are not meant to. They meet a different standard altogether: the loyalty test of Trump — absolute, personal, unflinching. And that is enough, in Trump's world, to carry the stars and stripes into South-east Asia. * Phar Kim Beng is the Director of the Institute of Internationalization and Asean Studies (IINTAS) and Professor of Asean Studies in International Islamic University of Malaysia. He writes frequently on regional trade, diplomacy, and international strategy ** Luthfy Hamzah is a research fellow at IINTAS *** This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail