All posts tagged: envoy

Former NATO envoy warns of ‘very big mistakes’ in criticizing Trump on Iran – POLITICO

Former NATO envoy warns of ‘very big mistakes’ in criticizing Trump on Iran – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

There are “ways to be proactive … without taking gratuitous shots at President Trump that don’t actually help,” he said. Be nice to Trump Instead, European leaders should follow the example of NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, who has been careful not to anger Trump by backing the war against Iran. “Working with President Trump, being complimentary, being enthusiastic, because … he is doing them a service,” is the approach they should take, Volker said. He also called on German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to turn up the charm on Trump. Germany has not restricted the use of its crucial Ramstein air base and Merz has not clashed with the U.S. president, although he has observed that relations with the U.S. are “just difficult” at the moment. Merz has been more circumspect with the president than Starmer, and Trump has not retaliated against him as he has with the British prime minister. “Unlike Keir Starmer, where President Trump seems to like to go after him a little bit, to poke him a little bit, he doesn’t do …

Italy slams Trump envoy proposal of taking Iran’s place in World Cup 2026 | World Cup 2026 News

Italy slams Trump envoy proposal of taking Iran’s place in World Cup 2026 | World Cup 2026 News

Published by Sam Flores

Italian government officials have hit back at suggestions that their national football team could still be sent to the World Cup 2026, even if already-qualified Iran does not compete at the finals. Since the United States-Israeli war on Iran began on February 28, Iran’s participation in this summer’s edition of FIFA’s global showpiece has been in doubt because all of the country’s group-stage matches are scheduled to be played in the US. Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of list The tournament is co-hosted with the US by Canada and Mexico, leading to suggestions that Iran’s games could be played at alternative venues. The speculation about Iran’s participation has been rife, with officials from both Iran and the US weighing in on the topic, including US President Donald Trump. In a statement on Wednesday, however, Iran’s government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani said all necessary arrangements for the team’s effective participation in the tournament have been ensured by the Ministry of Sports and Youth. An envoy for Trump, though, has been quoted as suggesting that Italy, who …

Soccer-Trump Envoy Seeks to Replace Iran With Italy in Upcoming World Cup, FT Reports

Soccer-Trump Envoy Seeks to Replace Iran With Italy in Upcoming World Cup, FT Reports

Published by Sam Flores

April 22 (Reuters) – A top envoy to U.S. President Donald Trump ⁠has ⁠asked FIFA to replace Iran with Italy ⁠in the upcoming World Cup, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday. The plan is an ​effort to repair ties between Trump and Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni after the two fell out amid the American president’s ‌attacks against Pope Leo XIV over the ‌Iran war, the FT reported, citing people familiar with the matter. “I confirm I have suggested to Trump and (FIFA president Gianni) ⁠Infantino that ⁠Italy replace Iran at the World Cup. I’m an Italian native and it would ​be a dream to see the Azzurri at a US-hosted tournament. With four titles, they have the pedigree to justify inclusion,” U.S. special envoy Paolo Zampolli told the FT. The White House, FIFA, the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) and Asian Football Confederation (AFC) did not immediately respond ​to Reuters’ requests for comment. Italy suffered a shock in March after the national team missed out on the ⁠World Cup ⁠for the third time in ⁠a …

Who is Yechiel Leiter, Israel’s US envoy leading talks with Lebanon? | Explainer News

Who is Yechiel Leiter, Israel’s US envoy leading talks with Lebanon? | Explainer News

Published by Sam Flores

Israel’s ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter, held a first-ever phone call with his Lebanese counterpart, Nada Hamadeh Moawad, over the weekend, a break from tradition because Israel and Lebanon do not have formal diplomatic relations. The meeting comes as global pressure mounts on Israel to end the invasion of Lebanon, with more than 2,000 people killed in Israeli attacks and over one million people displaced. Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of list Leiter, a settlement activist, is a longtime figure in Israeli political circles. A US-born Israeli, he has held senior advisory roles in government and is closely associated with far-right politics. While his diplomatic position places him at the centre of US-Israel relations, Leiter has drawn controversy during his time in public service, including over his past affiliations, ideological positions, and rhetoric during Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza and the fighting in Lebanon. So who is Yechiel Leiter, and will the Israel-Lebanon talks succeed? What discussions took place between Leiter and the Lebanese ambassador? Israel will begin official peace talks with …

Saudi Arabia Summons Iraq Envoy Over Drone Threats From Iraqi Territory

Saudi Arabia Summons Iraq Envoy Over Drone Threats From Iraqi Territory

Published by Sam Flores

April 12 (Reuters) – ⁠Saudi ⁠Arabia ⁠said on Sunday ​it had ‌summoned Iraq’s ‌ambassador ⁠over ⁠what it described as threats ​targeting the ​kingdom and other ⁠Gulf states ⁠from ⁠drones launched from ​Iraqi territory. The Saudi ​foreign ⁠ministry said ⁠in a statement that it had “emphasised ⁠the importance of Iraq dealing responsibly with these threats and attacks”. (Reporting ⁠by Hatem Maher and Ahmed Tolba; ​Editing by Alexander ​Smith) Copyright 2026 Thomson Reuters. Photos You Should See – April 2026 Source link

It’s time to reinvent NATO, says Ukraine’s envoy to the alliance – POLITICO

It’s time to reinvent NATO, says Ukraine’s envoy to the alliance – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

The desire to join NATO has not blinded Ukraine to the substantial cracks within the alliance. The ambassador admitted that the country’s faith had been shaken, in part because of NATO’s “behavior in the first years of the war, when it deliberately tried to distance itself from all key processes related to providing Ukraine with the most necessary support — lethal weapons.” Following Trump’s reelection and Washington’s decision to scale down its support of Kyiv, NATO took a more active role in the country’s defense, and today the alliance coordinates more than 80 percent of all military assistance to Ukraine. While a majority of Ukrainians still wish for their country to join NATO, support for the alliance has been steadily dropping since 2022, when a record 89 percent of citizens expressed support for membership. In the years that have elapsed since then, the pressures of war have led Ukraine to gain defensive experience and develop its own effective weapons systems. Getmanchuk said Kyiv is today positioned to be a partner that has something to offer …

Trump’s EU envoy urges swift approval of trade deal  – POLITICO

Trump’s EU envoy urges swift approval of trade deal  – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

“We’re anxious to get this through the process. We understood they had to go through a process, but it’s been long enough. And hopefully we’ll get through it on Thursday and we can both move on to more economically beneficial endeavors,” Puzder stressed.  Trade lawmakers backed amendments at the committee stage to strengthen the EU’s protections in case Washington doesn’t respect its side of the deal.  They for instance introduced a suspension clause if Trump threatens the EU’s territorial sovereignty, as he did earlier this year when he pushed to annex Greenland. MEPs also added another provision that foresees that the deal would expire in March 2028.  Puzder declined to speculate on whether the deal could unravel altogether if the U.S. president were to launch any renewed threats.  “I hate to prejudge where this is going to go,” he said. “What everybody’s been saying on both sides is a deal is a deal. We had a deal; hopefully we still have a deal.” The ambassador stressed there had been a “very good two-way communication” between …

Iran Has Not Contacted US About Possible Peace Talks, Says Tehran’s UN Envoy

Iran Has Not Contacted US About Possible Peace Talks, Says Tehran’s UN Envoy

Published by Sam Flores

GENEVA, March 3 (Reuters) – Iran’s ⁠ambassador ⁠to the United Nations in ⁠Geneva on Tuesday ruled out for now any negotiations with ​the United States, three days after the U.S. and Israel launched joint strikes on ‌his country. Explosions rocked Tehran again ‌on Tuesday, and financial markets around the world tumbled amid fears of a ⁠prolonged disruption ⁠to global energy supplies. U.S. President Donald Trump and Israel’s Prime ​Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have given open-ended answers when asked how long the war might last. Ali Bahreini, ambassador of the Iranian mission to the U.N. in Geneva, told reporters that ​Iran had not contacted the U.S. either directly or indirectly about holding talks ⁠to ⁠de-escalate the conflict or ⁠about resuming ​negotiations over Tehran’s nuclear programme. Asked about the prospects for any talks, Bahreini said: “For the ​time being we are ⁠very doubtful about the usefulness of negotiation… The only language for talking with the United States is the language of defence.” “I don’t think it is a time for having any kind of negotiation from our side,” …

Epstein blamed ‘Charles’ on day Andrew lost UK trade envoy job | UK News

Epstein blamed ‘Charles’ on day Andrew lost UK trade envoy job | UK News

Published by Sam Flores

Jeffrey Epstein blamed “Charles” on the day Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor lost his UK trade envoy job. On 21 July 2011, the day it was announced that the former prince would step down from the role, Epstein wrote: “I assume he knows that this is Charles doing.” The email was in response to a message from an associate, who said: “Lots of TV coverage on PA and always big feature on you. Insane.” Sky News believes PA refers to Prince Andrew. Image: Andrew in Jakarta, Indonesia, during his time as trade envoy in 2011. Pic: Reuters The former prince served as the UK’s special representative for international trade and investment between 2001 and 2011. The role gave him access to senior government and business contacts around the world. He stepped back from the role amid increasing scrutiny and criticism about his continued relationship with the US financier and convicted sex offender. A photo of the two men walking in New York made headlines in the months ahead of him stepping down. Image: Jeffrey Epstein. Pic: New York …