CIA Director Ratcliffe meets new Venezuelan leader Rodriguez in Caracas, warns country to stop consorting with cartels and US enemies

I presume this is the first high level official visit by a representative of the US government to Venezuela after the abduction of dictator Maduro.

Why the Director of the CIA? What is the message?

CIA chief meets new Venezuelan leader, warns country to stop consorting with cartels and US enemies | Just The News "Just the News obtained three CIA photos of Ratcliffe's visit with Rodriguez, including one of the U.S. spy chief shaking hands with the Venezuelan leader dressed in a bright lime-colored pant suit and sneakers."

Ratcliffe shakes hands with Rodriguez

The Trump administration abruptly recalled nearly 30 career ambassadors at U.S. embassies around the world despite around 80 vacant ambassador spots

Wow! The shake up of the federal government by President Trump continues! 

"The Trump administration abruptly recalled nearly 30 career ambassadors at U.S. embassies around the world, according to multiple officials familiar with the matter.

The U.S. already had around 80 vacant ambassador spots worldwide. The mass recall a year into the administration, coupled with the numerous top-level overseas posts already sitting empty, is without modern historic precedent, current and former veteran State Department officials said. A senior department official said that the recall was part of a standard process to reassess ambassadors in any administration and that it’s the president’s right to ensure he has envoys in place who advance his foreign-policy agenda."

The Wall Street Journal What's news

Chart of the day

Source: We tracked every overseas trip by world leaders since the end of the Cold War – here’s what we found

President Trump is considering naming New York City Mayor Eric Adams for U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia

What! Saudi Arabia of all places? Mohammed bin Salman will be so pleased! Caution: satire!

Perhaps, we have underestimated the brilliance and competence of mayor of NYC Eric Adams. Just kidding!

Has this news been corroborated? Or is this idle speculation?

Is this just a clever political move? Maybe too clever?

"President Trump is reportedly considering naming New York City Mayor Eric Adams for U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia. Adams is being pressured to drop his candidacy for re-election against Zohran Mamdani."

Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025 - Join The Flyover

Trump considering NYC Mayor Eric Adams as ambassador to Saudi Arabia "President Donald Trump recently said he’d like to see two people drop out of the NYC mayor's race “and have it be one on one.” He didn't specify who."

Inside Trump’s Million-Dollar Golf Diplomacy in Scotland with Palki Sharma

Recommendable!

US envoy Witkoff arrives in Russia to meet with Putin in search of Ukraine ceasefire deal. Really!

I don't expect too much! In my opinion, President Trump chose the wrong person as special envoy for this and other jobs! Not long ago, I blogged here that President Trump should have fired Witkoff.

Then there is the obstinance of Putin the Terrible (age 72, former KGB agent, Russian tsar since 2012), a megalomaniac and war criminal!

"U.S. special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff has arrived in Russia and is set to meet with Russia President Vladimir Putin on Friday. "

US envoy Witkoff arrives in Russia to meet with Putin in search of Ukraine ceasefire deal | Just The News "Witkoff landed in Saint Petersburg on Friday morning and met with Putin's envoy Kirill Dmitriev"

Image of the day

German foreign minister Baerbock walks up these airport gangway stairs with her hands clasped over the belly around her smartphone and with high heel shoes! And it is wet outside! Credits

Entwicklungspolitik im Zeichen des Zeitgeistes - Die feministische Asienstrategie der Svenja Schulze

Wie unfähig ist der Kanzler Olaf Scholz! Welch eine Bananenrepublik D.!

Wenn der Realitätssinn völlig schwindet!

Die Bundesregierung scheint es auch nicht mal für nötig zu halten eine kurz und bündige Zusammenfassung (auch in englisch highlights) auf dem Internet (nicht PDF, sondern webpage html) zur Verfügung zu stellen! Wie die Hinterwäldler!

Entwicklungspolitik im Zeichen des Zeitgeistes - Die feministische Asienstrategie der Svenja Schulze | Cicero Online Die von Bundesentwicklungsministerin Svenja Schulze vorgestellte Asienstrategie liefert neben zeitgeistigen Bekenntnissen und allerlei gegenderten Formulierungen nur bedingt politischen Mehrwert. Dabei durchzieht ein Grundton des Ungenauen und Vagen das Papier.

BMZ-Strategie Deutsche Entwicklungspolitik mit Asien Innovativ – sozial – feministisch

Why is North Korea Shutting Embassies Around the World? with Palki Sharma

When will the Korean peninsula be unified again!

Afghan ambassador and senior diplomats leave India to seek asylum and shutdown embassy

Surprise!

Congo, Paraguay pledge Jerusalem embassies in NY talks with Netanyahu

Good news! Long way to go!

Congo, Paraguay pledge Jerusalem embassies in NY talks with Netanyahu - The Jerusalem Post To date, only five countries have opened Jerusalem embassies: the United States, Honduras, Guatemala, Kosovo and Papa New Guinea.

What is PM Modi's Brand of Diplomacy? with Palki Sharma

Recommendable! India, a rising superpower!

The Realpolitik of Henry Kissinger

Very recommendable! Henry Kissinger just turned 100 years old!

US ambassador to Israel Tom Nides resigns, to leave role in summer

"My family misses me," Nides said as the reason behind his decision to step down.

Can you think of a more diplomatic and sympathetic excuse? Or is he covering up for his ineptitude or disagreement with the senile and demented 46th President? Or does he not like Netanyahu?

US ambassador to Israel Tom Nides resigns, to leave role in summer - Israel News - The Jerusalem Post

U.S. and Russia Clash at G20 Meet in India | Blinken - Lavrov Faceoff

Recommendable!

Jordan, Latvia and Israel shake up diplomatic corps after Shadow Diplomats investigation as other countries have done so before

What are honorary consuls actually doing these days?

"Three more countries have announced reviews of honorary consuls after an investigation by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists and ProPublica revealed widespread wrongdoing by members of the little-known system of volunteer diplomats.

Jordan, Latvia and Israel have either terminated the status of honorary consuls operating in their countries or ordered reviews of those currently serving.

Meanwhile, reporters at ICIJ media partner El Periódico obtained an exclusive police report with new details about a money laundering probe of honorary consuls in Spain.

Last year, ICIJ and ProPublica, in collaboration with 60 media partners, published Shadow Diplomats, an investigation revealing that honorary consuls have repeatedly exploited diplomatic status to threaten international security and the rule of law. The investigation found at least 500 current and former honorary consuls who have been accused of crimes or embroiled in controversy — the majority while they held their posts.

Under international treaty, honorary consuls receive legal protections and privileges that can include immunity from lawsuits and the ability to move consular bags across borders without inspection. ..."

Jordan, Latvia and Israel shake up diplomatic corps after Shadow Diplomats investigation - ICIJ After receiving questions from journalists, governments announced the termination and reviews of honorary consuls tied to controversies or accused of wrongdoing.

Putin’s army of shadow diplomats (honorary consuls) in over 45 countries

Yesterday, I blogged here about the Dragnet of the Communist Party of China (more than one hundred police stations in over 53 countries). Today, I discovered this article. 

Sometimes, you have to congratulate investigative journalism! Bravo!

Western countries are way too naive and cavalier about what Putin the Terrible and the Communist Party of China does!

"... In a newly published story, ICIJ and ProPublica uncovered how under President Vladimir Putin, Russia has become an enthusiastic supporter of honorary consuls, building a faithful network of the volunteer diplomats to serve the Kremlin’s political agenda around the world.

Though Russia does not release lists of its honorary consuls, the Shadow Diplomats team identified consuls appointed by Russia who have served in at least 45 countries — encompassing a who’s who list of power brokers and oligarchs.

Some of them have supported Putin’s most contentious military and political campaigns, including the February invasion of Ukraine. Others have been part of a strategy to move public opinion in the Kremlin’s favor and, over time, weaken pro-Western governments, particularly in European countries vulnerable to influence. ..."

Putin’s army of shadow diplomats; a corporate transparency rollback in Europe; allegedly looted artifacts seized from Manhattan home and more

Investigative journalists are investigating hundreds of possibly rogue honorary consuls

This could be an interesting project! How much and what kind of abuse is there regarding e.g. honorary consuls?

"ICIJ’s latest investigation: Shadow Diplomats, the story of how hundreds of rogue honorary consuls — including alleged terror financiers and criminals — have undermined a little-known system of global diplomacy.

More than 160 journalists from 46 countries joined the reporting team, which also marked the first collaboration between ICIJ and ProPublica. ...
There is no international database of honorary consuls, and many countries maintain poor records, or release no information at all. ..."

ICIJ launches a new kind of investigation

Swiss foreign diplomacy in the wake of the latest assassination of a top Iranian official

Usually, Swiss foreign diplomacy tends to be quite discreet! Besides neutrality, one more reason why Swiss foreign diplomacy is in demand!

The Neue Züricher Zeitung just published an article that the Swiss foreign minister Ignazio Cassis is traveling to Israel and the UAE and perhaps to other countries in the Middle East in response to the assassination of Mohsen Fakhrizadeh. Apparently, Mr. Cassis also appeared on Israeli TV. According to this article, Swiss foreign diplomacy also contributed to preventing an escalation after the assassination of Iranian general  Kassem Soleimani earlier this year (2020).

Since the U.S. presidential election is in serious limbo, some Swiss foreign diplomacy might not hurt to prevent any potential military confrontations in the Middle East or by Iran.

"... Die Schweiz kann bei der Beruhigung der Lage eine wichtige Rolle spielen. Dass es Anfang des Jahres nach der Tötung des iranischen Generals Kassem Soleimani durch die Amerikaner nicht zum Krieg kam, war nicht zuletzt ihrer stillen Diplomatie zu verdanken. Deshalb sei es wichtig, dass die Schweiz über ihre jeweiligen Schutzmachtmandate für die USA in Iran und die gegenseitigen Mandate der Saudi und Iraner, «Leute miteinander reden lasse, die dazu nicht mehr in der Lage sind», sagte Cassis in Tel Aviv. ..."

Aussenminister Ignazio Cassis ist besorgt über eine mögliche Eskalation im Nahen Osten Ignazio Cassis bereist zu einem heiklen Zeitpunkt den Nahen Osten.