United States: Diplomatic crisis too?

In order to increasingly aggravate the situation of the current US government, the case of the explosive resignation of its ambassador to Panama broke out now.

According to Miami’s journalist Franco Ordoñez, John Feeley’s resignation, “sent shock waves through the State Department, where this diplomat was seen as a rising star and even as a possible undersecretary”.

He added that “more than a dozen of state officials said it made them question their own commitment with an administration, which they feel is undermining the work of that department and the influence of the U.S. in the world”.

A US official who works at the State Department quoted by Ordoñez, stated that “After what happened recently, people wonder who they can be effective in an environment that this".

Others consider in Washington that Feeley, was also one of the main specialists in Latin America, served as a mentor for many of the diplomats who are specializing at present.

The State Department confirmed he would leave his post next March 9th. Pretext? Personal reasons.

The information coming from Miami and amplified in Washington added that “John Feeley, resigned because he was not willing to work under Trump’s presidency”.

On the other hand, the American Association of Foreign Services, professional organization of the diplomatic corps of the United States announced the resignation happens when 60 percent of the senior professional diplomats have left and new applications have fallen by half.

Journalist Ordoñez adds that, according to his colleagues, Feeley reflected in his resignation letter “the collapse of morale of a diplomatic corps that has lost confidence in the Trump administration’s focus on diplomacy”.

Observers reiterate that John Feeley sent his controversial letter last December, but his acquaintances say that the essential thing of his retirement were Trump’s recent "slaps" to Haiti, El Salvador and African nations.

Benjamin Gedan, former director of the National Security Council for Latin America during the Obama administration, said that “he was the most respected expert in Latin American affairs in the Foreign Service and that without a doubt, he was heading to high-ranking positions”.

Mark Feierstein, head director of the White House National Security Council for the Western Hemisphere Affairs under President Barack Obama, said “Trump has given the ambassadors many reasons to resign last year”, that was just one. There were many more. And there will be more”.

In addition to Feeley, last November state official Elizabeth Shackelford, who worked in Nairobi for the mission of the United States in Somalia, resigned too, after criticizing the head of state for abandoning human rights policies and for his “lack of respect” to the diplomatic service.

So, the image of the current government of the United States increasingly darkens.

Translated by Jorge Mesa Benjamin / CubaSi Translation Staff