The US Secretary of State has called on the Senate to speed up the approval of ambassadorial appointments. But, according to Antony Blinken, this happens much more slowly than under previous governments and would not benefit his country’s diplomatic clout.
“This is a huge problem,” Minister Blinken said at a press conference in the Indonesian capital, Jakarta. He said only 16 percent of candidates for ambassadorial posts had been approved by the Senate last week.
The lack of such appointments, he said, creates problems “with virtually every challenge we face, including dealing with Russia and China”.
The appointments have been delayed due to political disagreements. According to American media, senators like Republican Ted Cruz are putting up blockades to the annoyance of some party members.
Blinken said he discussed the issue with Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer. “National security requires the Senate to act.”