On Oct. 30, 1991, in the presence of President George H.W. Bush, Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev and other leaders, the first major peace conference between Israel and its Arab neighbors got underway in Madrid. Yet 30 years after Madrid, real peace remains elusive—and there’s still no Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Larry Luxner
Miami native Larry Luxner, a veteran journalist and photographer, has reported from more than 100 countries in Latin America, Africa, Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Asia for a variety of news outlets. He lived for many years in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and the Washington, D.C., area before relocating to Israel in January 2017. Larry has been news editor of The Washington Diplomat since 2005.
In an Oct. 5 webinar hosted by the Central Asia-Caucasus Institute (CACI), Ibrahim discussed his energy-rich country’s regional priorities with S. Frederick Starr, the organization’s chairman, and Svante Cornell, its director. And the first order of business, he said, is to “define these priorities.”
Qin Gang, China’s new ambassador to the United States, wants to correct three misconceptions when it comes to US-Chinese relations.
As Haiti descends deeper into chaos—first from the assassination of its president, Jovenel Moïse, on July 7, then from the
On Sept. 10, The Washington Diplomat spoke with Asad Majeed Khan, Pakistan’s ambassador to the United States, about the legacy of 9/11, the US-Pakistan bilateral relationship and, of course, the recent Taliban takeover of Afghanistan.
Until coronavirus paralyzed the airline industry in early 2020, more than a million passengers were flying annually between the United States and West Africa. Now that international travel is gradually returning to normal, Air Senegal hopes to grab a slice of that business.
The US-ASEAN Business Council, a powerful Washington-based corporate association active in 10 Southeast Asian countries, has named Ted Osius as its new president and CEO.
The biggest immediate threat to Lithuania comes not from Russia, but from another former Soviet republic: Belarus. That’s the warning from Audra Plepyté, Lithuania’s ambassador to the United States. She says that if the autocratic regime of Alexander Lukashenko isn’t neutralized soon, all of Europe will ultimately pay the price.
During his 35 years in the US Diplomatic Service, Scott DeLisi served in four Asian capitals and three African ones. But magical, mountainous Nepal has always occupied a special place in his heart. In fact, the day he retired six years ago, the former ambassador decided to devote all his energy to Engage Nepal, a nonprofit organization that helps fight poverty in one of the world’s poorest countries.
With the delayed Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics as a backdrop, it’s no surprise the Czech Embassy would choose sports as the theme of its 12th Annual Mutual Inspirations Festival. This year’s edition is dedicated to Czech gymnast and patriot Věra Čáslavská, a seven-time Olympic gold medalist, four-time World Champion and 11-time European Champion.
On Aug. 17, 1961, heads of state from throughout the hemisphere met at the Uruguayan beach resort of Punta del Este to launch President John F. Kennedy’s Alliance for Progress—a comprehensive 10-year plan known in Spanish as “Alianza para el Progreso” that sought to strengthen US diplomatic and economic relations with Latin America.
As Iran threatens Western shipping interests in the Persian Gulf, Lebanon’s economy teeters on the brink of collapse and COVID-19 kills thousands every day throughout the Middle East, one major geopolitical story is being overlooked: Turkey’s gradual rapprochement with Israel.
After 28 years at the Inter-American Dialogue and 12 years as its president, Michael Shifter is leaving at the end of 2021, just as the region faces some of its darkest days in modern history.
With the flags of the European Union, Lithuania, Belarus and the United States as a backdrop, a group of diplomats and lawmakers on July 21 inaugurated the bipartisan Friends of Belarus Congressional Caucus. Their goal: to bring down Europe’s last dictatorship.
On July 15, Sonia Guzmán, the country’s new ambassador to the United States, hosted a reception at her Washington, D.C., residence to promote both products. At the event, some 120 guests enjoyed premium cigars while sampling top Dominican rums, as well as coffee and chocolate.
As the delta variant of COVID-19 rips across the globe—driving infection rates to record highs throughout Africa, Latin America and Asia—Caribbean leaders are pleading with the Biden administration for vaccines in order to avert total economic catastrophe.
