U.S. State Dept: Rubio has ended the ordered departure status in US mission in Baghdad

U.S. State Dept: Rubio has ended the ordered departure status in US mission in Baghdad

The U.S. State Department, under the leadership of Secretary Marco Rubio, has implemented a new policy regarding public comments on foreign elections. The policy, announced on Thursday, July 17, 2025, mandates that the department refrain from commenting on foreign elections unless there is a "clear and compelling U.S. foreign policy interest" to do so [1]. This shift in policy is aimed at aligning the department's communications with President Trump's "America First" foreign policy agenda.

The memo, issued by Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, emphasizes that when it is appropriate to comment on a foreign election, the message should be brief and focused on congratulating the winning candidate and noting shared foreign policy interests. The memo also specifies that comments should avoid opining on the fairness or integrity of an electoral process, its legitimacy, or the democratic values of the country in question. The State Department's statement to The Wall Street Journal underscores that the U.S. will hold firm to its own democratic values and celebrate those values when other countries choose a similar path [1].

Nicole Widdersheim of Human Rights Watch expressed concern over the new policy, stating that it may leave the U.S. government in the dark regarding the nature of the leadership they are dealing with. She noted that often, it is the public in these situations who risk their lives to speak out against unfair and credible elections, whereas the U.S. Embassy may be the only entity able to shed light on the bad and unfair processes [1].

References:
[1] https://www.newsmax.com/politics/state-department-foreign-elections-trump/2025/07/17/id/1219106/